West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-12-14

created, so as to do justice to all parties in.
volved
The business Of the supreme Court and
of the courts In many OF the circuits has
increased to such an extent, during the past
years that additional legislation is impera.
tive to relieve and prevent the delay Il
Justice and possible oppression to suitors,
which is thus Uccusioned. The encumhcred
condition of these dockets is presented
anew in the report Of the Attorney General,
aud the remedy suggested Is earnestly
urged Tor Congressional action. The ctea-
hon 4 additional circuit judges, as pro.
posed, would afford a complete remedy, and
would involve AN eXpense--a' the present
rate of salaries-of not more than soc, 600 a
year.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The annual reports Of the Secretary OF
the Interior and of the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs, present an elaborate account
OF the present condition of the Indian
tribes, and Of that branch OF the public ser.
vice which ministers to their interest
While the conduct OF the Indians, gcner.
ally, has been orderly, and their relations
with their neighbors friendly and peaceful.
two local disturbances have occurred, which
were deplorable in their character, but re-.
mained, happily, confined to n compare.
lively small number OF Indians. The dis.
content among the BannoCks, which led
hrst to some acts OF violence ON the part of
some members OF the tribe and finally to
the outbreak, appears TO have been caused
by the insuthcienCy of food on the rescrva.
hon, and this insufllciency TO have been
owing to the inadequacy of the appropria-
uons, made by Congress, to the wants OF the
Indians, at time when the Indians were
prevented from supplying the deficiency by
hunting. After an arduous pursuit by the
troops of the United States, aud several en-.
unN L 4
duced TO subjection, aud the larger part Of
them surrendered themselves as prisoners.
In this connection, desire 10 cali attention
20 the recommendation made by the SEQ.
fetaTy Of the Interior, that n sufficient fund
he placed at the disposal of the Executive,
to be used with proper accountability, at
discretion, in sudden emergencies of the
Indian service.
The other case OF disturbance was that of
band of Northern Cheyennes who sud.
denly left their reservation in the Indian
Territory and marched rapidly through the
States Of Kansas and Nebraska i'm the
direction OF their old hunting-grounds,
committing murders and other crimes on
their way. From documents accompanying
the report of the Secretary OF the Interior,
IL appears that this disorderly band was as
fully supplied with the necessaries of life
AZ the four thousand seven hundred other
Indians who remained quietly on the reser-
yatiOn, and that the disturbance was caused
by men Of "A restless and mischievous dis
position among the Indians themselves
Almost the whole OF this band have sur
rendered to the military authorities, and il
IN gratifying fact that, when some of them
had taken refuge in the camp OF the Red
Cloud Sioux, with whom they had been i'm
friendly relations, the Sioux held them ns
prisoners and readily gave them up to the
ofhcers OF the United States, thus giving
new proof OF the loyal spirit which, alarm
ng rumors To the contrary notwithstanding
they have uniformly shown ever since the
wishes they expressed at the council of
September 1877, had been complied with.
Both the Secretary Of the Interior and
the Secretary oil War unite in the recon-
mendation that provision he made by Con
gress Tor the organization of n corps Of
mOunted Indian auxiliaTies," to be under
the control Of the army, and to be used for
the purpose Of keeping the Indians on their
reservatlons, and preventing or repressing
disturbance on their part. / earnestly con.
cur in this recommendation. IL 10 believed
that the organization OF such a body of
Indian cavalry, receiving n moderate pay
from the Government would considerably
weaken the restless element among the
Indians by Withdrawing from IL a number
OF young men and giving them congenial
employment under the Government IL be.
a''h a. ah". w " - INIlfHft llh' luulhuh lh
our service, almost without exception, are
faithful in the performance Of the duties
assigned to them. Such an organization
would materially aid the army in the ac-
complement of a task which IN numeri.
col strength is sometimes found deficient
But, while the employment OF force for
the prevention or repression Of Indian
troubles is Of occasional necessity, and
wise preparation should be made u that
end, greater reliance must be placed on
humane and civiliLing agencies for the ulti.
mate solution Of what is called the Indian
problem. II may be very difficult and re-
quire much patient effort, 20 curb the un.
ru spirit Of the savage Indian 20 the re-
straints Of civilized life, but experience
shows hat IL is not impossible. Many Of
the tribes which are now quiet ana orderly
and self-supporting we're once ~ savage as
any that az present roam over the plains or
in the mountains Of the far West, and we're
then considered inaccessible 20 civilizing
Influences. IL may be impossible 20 raise
them fully mp % the level OF the white pop.
ulatiOn OF the United States but we should
not forget thattheTareithe aborigines OF the
country, and called the soil their own on
which our people have grown rich, power.
lul, and happy. We owe 10 TO them 90
moral duty 20 help them In attaining at
least that degree Of civilization which they
may be able 10 reach. tits not only our
duty-it is also our interest 20 do 30. In
dians who have become agriculturists or
herdsmen, and feel an interest in property
will thenoeiorth cease 10 be a waTlike and
disturbing element Il Is also q well.
authenticated fact that Indians are apt 10 be
peaoeable and quiet when their children
are At school, and am grati6ed ~ know.
from the expressions ~ Indians themselves
and from many cUncurring reports, that
there is steady increasing desire even
among Indians belonging TO comparatively
wild tribes, 10 have their children educated
] invite attention b the reports of the Sec.
retary OF the Interior and the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, touching the experiment
recently inaugurated, in taking fifty In.
dian children, boys and girls, from different
tribes, 70 the Hampton Normal Agricultural
Institute, In NirginiB where they are 30 re.
ccive an elementary English education and
training in agricultural end other useful
work. to be returned % their tribes, after
the completed course, ~ Interpreters, in
structors and examples ltis reported that
the officer charged with the selection Of
those children might have had thousands Of
young Indians sent with him had 10 been
possible 10 make provision for them.
agree With the Secretary Of the Interior in
saying that " the result OF this interesting
experiment, ii favorable, may be- destined 10
become an Important factor in the advance.
ment OF civilization among the Indians"
The question, whether a change in the
control az the Indian service should be
made, was at the last session of Congress.
referred 10 q Committee for inquiry and re-
port without desiring % anticipate that
report ] venture 20 express the hone that