The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-12-14

! some embarrassment has arisen out of tn
, conflict between the customs laws of thi
: country and the provisions OF the Posta
, Convention, in regard to the transmission
e of foreign books and newspapers to thi,
country by mail. 1t is hoped that Congress
e will be able to devise some means of recon
3. cling the difficulties which have thus beer
: created, so as to do justice to all parties in
D volved.
The business of the supreme Court and
of the courts in many of the circuits, ha,
increased to such an extent, during the pas
years that additional legislation is ,mpera
/, tive to relieve and prevent the delay 81
justice and possible oppressio n 10 suitors
which is thus occasioned. The encountered
condition of these dockets is presented
anew in the report of the Attorney General
! and the remedy suggested is earnestly
J urged for Congressional action. The crea
ton of additional circuit judges, as pro
posed, would afford complete remedy, and
would involve an expense-at the present
rate of salaries--of not more than $50, 600 =
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, gener-
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-
manned, happily, confined to a compare
lively small number of Indians. The dis
content 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, appears to have been caused
by the insutfeiency OF food on the reserva-
ton, and this insufflciency to have been
owing to the inadequacy of the appropria-
lions, made by Congress, to the wants OF the
Indians, at a time when the Indians were
prevented from supplying the deficiency by
hunting After an arduous pursuit by the
troops of the United States, and several en-
eagements, the hostile Indians were re-
duced to subsection, and the larger part of
them surrendered themselves as prisoners
In this connection, desire 10 call attention
to the recommendation made by the Sec.
rotary of the Interior, that q sufficient fund
be 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 disadvantages that Of
a band CT Northern Cheyennes who sud
denly left their reservation in the Indian
Territory and marched rapidly through the
States of Kansas and Nebraska in the
direction of their old hunting.grounds,
committing murders and other crimes on
their way From documents accompanying
thereport of the Secretary Of the Interior
it appears that this disorderly band was as
fully supplied with the neoessares of life
rs the four thousand seven hundred other
Indians who remained quietly on the reser.
walton, and that the disturbance was caused
by men of restless aud mischievous dis
position among the Indians themselves.
Almost the whole of this band have sur
rendered to the military authorities, and IL
is q gratifying fact that, when some of them
had taken refuge in the camp of the Red
Cloud Sioux, with whom they had been in
friendly relations, the Sioux held them as
prisoners and readily gave them up to the
officers 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 of War unite in the recon-
nlendation that provision be made by Con-
gress for the organization of corps of
mounted Indian auxiliaries," to be under
the control of the army, and to be used for
the purpose OF keeping the Indians on their
reservations, and preventing or REFRESHING
disturbance on their part. l earnestly con-
cur in this recommendation. II il believed
| that the organization of such body OF
| Indian cavalry, receiving moderate pay
! from the Government, would considerably
weaken the restless element among the
! Indians by Withdrawing from IL number
of young men and giving them congenial
employment under the Government, it be-
ing matter of experience that Indians in
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-
I..lx.~ Il s,..k
cal 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 TO that
end greater reliance must be placed on
humane and civilizing agencies for the ulti-
mate solution of what is called the Indian
problem. 1t may be very difficult and re-
quire much patient effort, to curb the I'M
ruy spirit of the savage Indian to the re
straiuts of civilized life, but experience
shows that it is not impossible. Many OF
the tribes which are now quiet ana orderly
and sef-supporting were once as savage as
any that at present roam over the plains or
| in the mountains OF the far West, and were
then considered inaccessible to civilizing
influences. 1t may be impossible to raise
them fully up to the level OF the white pop
ulation of the. U nited States; but we should
not forget that.theyiare!the aborigines of the
country, and called the soil their own on
which our people have grown rich, power
full, and happy. We owe it to them as a
moral duty to help them in attaining at
least that degree of civiliz 4tion which they
may be able to reach. 1t is not only our
duty-it is also our interest to do SO. In
dams who have become agriculturists or
herdsmen, and feel an interest in property,
will thenceforth cease to be wailike and
disturbing element 1t is also we'll
authenticated fact that Indians are ant TO be
peaceable and quiet when their children
from the expressions of Indians themselves
and from many concurring reports, that
there is steady increasing desire even
among Indians belonging to comparatively
, wild tribes, to have their children educated.
invite attention to the reports Of the Sec
rotary 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 to the Hampton Normal Agricultural
! Institute, in Virginia, where they are to re-
8 ceive an elementary English education and
e training in agricultural and other useful
work, to be returned to their tribes, after
E the completed course, as interpr eters, in
/: structors and examples. 1t is reported that
the officer charged with the selection OF
5 those children might have had thousands of
: young Indians sent with him had it been
e possible to make provision for them.
+ agree with the Secretary of the Interior in
e saying that the result of this interesting
: experiment, if favorable, may be destined To