Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-12-06

| thereto. In its origin the Postal Union
comprised twenty three countries. having
a population Uf three hundred and hity
millions of people. On the 1t If April
next 1t will comprise iOrty-three countries
and colonies, with population of mere
than SIX hundred and fifty millions o.
people, and will soon, by the accessions oi
the few remaining countries and colonies
which maintain organized postal services,
constitute, in fact as well a. in name, as lt+
new tide indicates, Universal Union.
regulating. upon uniform basis OF cheap
postage rates. the postal intercourse be-
tween all civilized nations.
Some embarrassment has arisen ont Of
conflict between the custom laws OF this
| Country and the Postal Convention, in re-
gard to the Transmission OF tJreign books
aud newspapers 10 this country by mail. 1t
Is hoped that Congress will be able to devise
some means OF reconcilipg the difficulties
which have thus been created, 50 as to do
justice to ell parties involved.
SUPREME COURT BUSINESS
The business of the Supreme court, and of
the courts in many Of the circuits has in
creased to such an extent during the past
years that additional legislation is impera
tive to relieve and prevent the delay OF
justice, and possible oppression to suitors,
which is thus occasioned. The encumbered
condition ot these dockes is presented
anew in the report of the Attorney General.
and TIE remedy suggested IS earnestly urged
FOR Congressional action. The creation OF
additional circuit judges, as proposed,
would afford a complete remedy. and would
involve an eIpeDse-at the present rate ci
salsries-ot not more than $50 900 year.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The annual reports of the secretary of the
interior and of the Commissioner Of Indian
affairs, present an elaborate account Of the
present condition CT the Indian tribes, and
of that branch OF the public service which
ministers to tLeir interests. While the con
duet Of the Indians, generally, has been or
derby, and their relations with their neigh
bDrs friendly and peaceful, two local dis
turbsnces have occurred, which were de-
plorable in their character. but remained
happily, confined to a comparatively small
number OF Indians. The disconten; among
the Bannocks. which led first to some acts
of violence on the part OF some members OF
the tribe and finally to the outbreak, ap-
pears to have been caused by an iusufficyen-
cy OF food on the reservation, ard this in
sufhciency to have been owing to the mad
equacy OF the appropriations, made by Con-
gress, to the wants Of the Indians, at time
when the Indians were prevented from sup
plying the dt iciency by hunting. Alter an
arduGuS pursuit by the troops OF the United
States, nId several engagements, the hostile
Indians were reduced to suhjtctIOr, and the
larger part Of them surrendered themselve.
as prisoners. In this connection, | desire
to call atteatiUu to the rtcOmmer datiJu
made by the secretary of the interior, that a
sufficient fund be placed at the disposal 81
the Executive, to be used, with proper ac-
cuuGtabilty, at discretion, in sudden emeT-
gencle- Of lite Indian servlca.
The other case Of disturbance was that Oi
band OF northern Cheyennes who sudden
| Is lett their reservation In the Indian terri
tory aiit marched rapidly through the states
Of kansGs and Nebraska in the direction o
their old hunting grounds, committing
murders ana otner crimes on their way
| Frog. c.il. ats accompanying the TepoT
of the secretary # the interior, 1t appear.
Il Il this o.-orderly band was fully sup
plied with the rec.sSarles OF lie as the ioul
thousand seven hundred Others Tho remain
ed quietly or the reservation. and that the
Gi.t4rbance was caused by men Of restics:
and mischievous disposition among the In
| dians themselves. Almost the whole of this
band have surrendered to the military au
| thOrities, and 1t Is II .Tatltyin5 TACT that
| when some 81 ;t-.n tgi taken reinge IN tht
camp OF the Red Coed Sioux, with whom
they had been in friendly relations, The
| Sioux held them prisoners and readily
gave them up to tbs officers of the UniteC
States, thus giving new proof OF the lOya
spirit which. alarming rumOrs to the con
trary notwithstanding, they have rnifOrmly
shown ever since the wishes they expressed
at the council OF September, 1877. had beer
complied with.
| Both the Secre tary Ct the Interior and the
SecIet-ry OF War uhlte in the recOmmcnda
ton that provision be made by Congres
for the organization of mounted "lndiar
auxiliaries,' - to be under the control oi tht
army, ana to be used for the purpose Oi
keeping the Indians on their reservation.
and preventing or reprossing disturbance
on their part. | earnestly concur in thl.
recommendation. 1t is believed that tn,
orgaliz,tion of such body of Indian
cavalry. receiving Il moderate pay from tht
| Government, would Considerably weaken
tho RESTLESS element among the Indians BY
! Withdrawing from it number 0. young
men and giving them cnngenlll employ
ment under tie GJyerhMent, it being d
matter OF experience that Indians in Onl
service almost without exception are ial.h
iul in the performance Of the duties assign
| ed to them. Such an organization would
materially aid the army In the accomplish
ment of task for which it. numerical
strength is sometimes found insufficient
But, while the employment Of force fol
the prevention or repression OF lndiar
troubles is of occasional necessity. and Wis,
preparation should be made 10 that end
greater reliance must be placed on human,
and civilized agencies for the ultimat,
| solution Of what Is called the lndar
problem. 1t may be very difficult, snC
require much patient effort. to curl
the unruly spirit of the savage Indiar
to the restraints Of civilized life. bu
experience shows that i; is not impossible
Many OF the tribes which are now quiet ant
orderly and seli-suppOrtlng were once "a
| savage as any that at present roam over th,
plains or in the mountains OF the far west
and were then considered inaccessible t.
civilizing influences. 1t may BE- impossibl,
TO raise them fully up to the level OF th'
white population Of the United States bu
we should not forget that they are the abor
| igines OF the country, and called the SOL
their own on which our people have grown
rich, powerful, and happy. We owe it Il
| them as moral duty to hol y them In at
tanning at least that degree Of civilization
which they may be able to reach. 1t Is no
only our duty-it Is also our interest to d
so. Indians who have become agrlcultu
| rists OF herdsmen. and feel an interest /,
property will thenccfOr:h cease to be war
like and disturbing element IL Is also
well authenticated fact that Indians are ap
to be pesceable and quiet when their ehil
dren are at school, and | am gratlhed t.
know. from the expressions Oi Indians them
selves and from many cOacurrIng reports
that there is Il steadily increasing desire
even among Indians belonging to Compare
lively wild tribes, to have thci
children educated invite atten
tion to the reports of the secretary Q
the interior and the commissioner OF India
Affairs. touching tho experiment rscentl
insuguratcd, IN taking fifty Indian children
boys and giIl-, from d,ilerent trIb,s, 10 tn
Hampton Normal Agricultural ln>tituto II
Virginia, where they are to receive an elt
mentary English education and training /
agricultural and other useful WORK, to b
returned to their tribes, alter tie cOmplete
course, as interpreter, instructors, and eS
amples. Ii is reported that the Office
charged with the selection OF those chldre
might have thousands of young Indian
sent with him had it been possible to max
provision for them. agree with the Secrt
tary OF the Interior in saying that "the r.
suit of this interesting experiment. ii iavUra
be, may be destined to become an impOrtan
factor In the advancement OF ciyilIzitlO
among the Indians
The question, whether a change in tn
control OF the Indian service should be lad
was, at the last Session Ui Congress, reierre
to committee for inquiry and report
Without desiring t. anticipate that report
! venture to express the hope that in th
decision Of so important "a question, tn
views expressed above may not DC lost sigh
Of. and that the decision, whatever 1t ma
be. viii arrest further agitation OF this sui
ect. such agitation beng apt 10 produce
disturbing effect upon the service as well a
on the Indians themselves.
la the enrolment OF the bill. making ap
preparations for sundry ciSll expenses. a
tho last s,sslJn Of Congress, that porto
which provided I the continuation of tn
Hot Springs commission was emitted A
Al. A. a