New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-27
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
TIE INDIAN PROBLEM.
"u. H. ENuMERArEs ELEVEN LAWS WHICH SlE

ar M pNruYRATrs ELEVEN LAWS WHICH SHE
SAYS ARE A DEAD LETTER-REsULTs OF NkG
LEoTING 10 ENFORCE TrEM.
TO the EdftOr or The Tribune,
SIR: Allow me to call attention to eleven
curious dead letter laws in the United ou''es
L Anv citizen or resident of the Unue9 0'''eS Gu
tering any territory secured by treaty 10 Tue '' 10
the purpose OF hunting grazing therein-nhe WIN"
800 and Imprisonment within six months'
Q Entering the territory secured 10 the ihu''p'
south Of the Ohio River. for any purpose Wn"'e'e'
without passport from the proper author'J-H"' ny
above penalty. .r. g..
3 Entering the Indian Territory with hostile H.
,entlon and mlttlng any offence against the person o
property Of any friendly Indan which would be phsH
able II committed upon citizen within our jurisdiction
fine within 800 aud imprisonment within ons year
II properly be taken destroyed, remuneration III
double value; and murde' be Committed de"lh 'SuP
nose this law was carried In regard 70 the murdefe
Of the chief Big Snake last Autumn, at Fort Keno III
| Indian Territory. how many men would De huhs oe-
| ides TIE soldier who fired the hrst shotD
4 Surveying or sattli ng upon ans land belonging 10
Indians or attempting 70 do so-dne WITHIN SlVoO ana
! imprisonment within one year
3 Atcnonng 10 trade among he Indians a. trader
without license from the Government-hne wita'h
800 imprisonment within thirty days and FORFEITURE
| OF merchandise.
Purchasing from indians any utensil for hunting OF
cooking OF any article Of clotnng, except skins or uS
nnc within $50 and !m pr,sonmsDt within thirty days
T. Purchasing horse FROM al lniian without license
fine within 800; imprisonment within thirV Gays
! aud forfeiture ~ the horse.
g An indian agent being concerned u any trade win
! Indians on his own 3c,ount-hne within $1,000 and
| imprisonment within one year.
| O. Treating with Indians for the purchase OF ahd
without authority from the Govcrnment-same punish
! ment
TO- foreigner going into tic indian Territory without
| a Doasoott-samp punishment.
H. Any indian other person committing "lthh the
Indian Territory any offence which would be Dullshao'
committed within places OF yclusve Fedora! jursde-
uou-the punishment ~ Is there provided Ior'-
(scctou 2O2 p. 51s Walkers American Law'I
Here are illustrations OF the result OF the neglect 10
enforce these laws:
In the report Of Indian Eureau FOR 1877 the agent
for ,he Sioux at Standing Rock. Dakota. says
"Tho cutting of cord-v God On this reservation by
| whife men to nil Govern oient c"nuacts aud supply
steamboat, mas provoked very mad feeling among our
Indians They have, Ia council df p0uuced tbe lnulsh
ttny n wood con, racors or their ployes IRON going
into already much deprted "rests TO cut down the
timber at such places anc N such grant Ties e. s thg
own convenience without any COMBINATION 10 the ln-
dl,us They INSIST that they could cut all o. The cord
wood that would be necf ssary 10 supply lho REQUIRE
nents OF both the Government md the steamboats, and
the benefit arising beIerom should nure To therl ana
not To white mon VINO nave no lffess w 'l' WI IT,
They furthe say thar the quanity or w"oh HnhuaIy
ting cut al and ear the agency by "hile men ias
become Rri M tndf they Vh' indlahsl uNe h~lIou
approximations that tney vii he com ed 10 20 ~ az
disf.ut. "a 10 procure mel nave HeIeiO-
fre called the attention OF the Dtpartmcnt 10 this
subject m special communications, aud trust mat II
vii receive such consideration It's lmpOrtence ue-
mbud. before the cnopping Of wood commences ths
tpe
Much difficulty T. encountered IN Protecting the
| persous and property OF Ind ans IN NeDIas 1a'
nu account OF their not being under the pro
| ,ectiou of the laws Of rhe United states. Inc
| -fu,her from their resCryltlOus - taken DIV
evdisposcd persons with punty. Lcddnl chlcIs oil
! Tuot,n hands nave D en- shot down In cold blood DIV
Willie rufiaue tne perpetrators OF the murders nave
prr9oua- reported the sstas 20 he local newspaper
bna.fnK ~ cir deeds vet these murderers are
! even arr strd PouuiAr opinion and pr, lhdoe hgHhs
the Indian render tho state law nOpetdtV, anu "
ictts in such cascs and hlgu al authorities decide
| maj me United states Courts have no jurisdiction
ne Tr.d states would have Jusucc done 10 ITS ~ard
Nm ms state IL must Dxiend over rhcm tie protecuon
~ laws aud mete out 20 them quail justice Win h'
rbtc man n Il il not prcpai - ave then cqud
rgIf. flt-or iu 1874. Of Birc ny White, the Ftien'
VINO wa4 h charge 40 tnat time o, the Northern super
, | ,,.-.,,t,r..,1 II. IL.
| Ne,r York Narch 81 1880.