The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-12-12

cults, has increased to such an extent
during the past year that additional Leg
islation is imperative to relieve and pre-
vent the delay of justice and possible
oppression to suitors which is thus occa-
stoned. The encumbered condition OF
these jockets is presented anew in the
report of the Attorney General, and the
remedy suggested is earnestly urged for
congressional action, The creation of
additional circuit judges, as proposed,
would afford e complete remedy, and
would involve an expense-at the pres
ent rate of salaries-of not more than
100000 year.
The annual report 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 service which ministers to their
interests. While the conduct of the
Indians generally has been orderly, and
their relations with their neighbors
friendly and peaceful, two local disturb
ances have occurred, which were de
plorable in their character, but remain
ed, happily, confined to comparatively
small number of Indians. The discon-
tent among the Bannocks, which led
ItlSt " oOluC ctCto vi f1OlC1CC VII tlC lJol u
of some members of the tribe and final
ly to the outbreak, appears to have been
caused by an insuf1iciency of food on
the reservation, and this insufficiency
to have been owing to the inadequacy
of the appropriations, made by Con-
gress, to the wants of the Indians, at a
time when the Indians were prevented
from supplying the deficiency by hunt
ing. After an arduous pursuit by the
troops Of the United States, and several
engagements, the hostile Indians were
reduced to subsection, and the larger
part of them surrendered themselves as
prisoners. [ desire to call attention to
the recommendation made by the Sec
rotary of the Interior, that a sufficient
fund be placed at the disposal of the
Executive, to be used, with proper ac-
countability, at discretion, in sudden
emergencies of the Indian service.
The other case of disturbance was that
of band of Northern Cheyennes who
suddenly left their reservation in the
Indian Territory and marched rapidly
through the States of Kansas and Ne
braska in 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, it appears
that this disorderly band was as fully
tupplied with the necessaries of life as
she four thousand seven hundred other
Indians, who remained quietly on the
reservation, ana that the disturbance
was caused by men of restless and
mischievous disposition among the In
dams themselves. Almost the whole of
this band have surrendered to the mill
To- -
fact that, when some of them had taken
refuge in the camp of the Red Cloud
Sioux, with whom they had been in
as prisoners and readily gave them up
to the officers of the United States, thus
giving new proof of the loyal spirit
which, alarming rumors to the contrary
Notwithstanding, they have uniformly
shown ever since the wishes they ex-
pressed at the council of September
1877, had been complied with.
Both the Secretary of the Interior and
the Secretary of War unite in the rec
omm 5ndation that provision be made by
Congress for the organization Of a corps
of mounted "Indian auXiliaries," to be
under the control of the army to be used
for the purpose of keeping the indians
on the reservations and preventing or
REFRESHING disturbance on their part. /
earnestly concur in this recommends
ton. tits believed that that the organ
ization of such body of Indian caval-
ny, receiving a moderate pay from the
Government, would considerably weak
en- the restless element among the Indi-
ans withdrawing from it number of
young men and giving them congenial
under the Government, it
being matter of experience that Indi-
ans in our service almost without excep-
ton are faithful in the performance of
the duties assigned to them. Such an
would materially aid the
army in the accomplishment of task
for which its numerical strength is
sometimes found insufficient.
But, while the employment of force
for the prevention or repression of In
dian 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 Indian problem. It may be very
difficult and require much patient effort,
to curb the unruly spirit of the savage
Indian to the restraints of civilized life,
but experience shows that it is not i'm
possible. Many of the tribe which are
now quiet and orderly and self-support-
ing were once as savage as any that at
present roam over the plains or in the
the far West, and were
hen considered inaccessible to civiliz-
ng influences. 1t may be impossible to
'aise them fully up to the level of the
white population Of the United States
out we should not forget that they are
he aborigines of the country, and called
he soil their own on which our people
nave grown rich, powerful, and happy.
We owe it to them as moral duty to
lelp them in attaining at least that de-
gree of civilization which they may be
.ble to reach. 1t is not only our duty
t is also our interest to do so. Indians
Who have become agriculturists or herds
men, and feel an interest in property,
will thenceforth cease to be a WarlikA