Huntsville gazette., 1881-12-10
Presidents MeSsa ge.
Continued from First Page.1


attention from Congress, enforced this duty
of the United States only as to State govern.
ments but the act of 1907, chapter 80, applied
also to territories. This law seems to have
remained in force until revision of the stat
utes, when theprOvisions fortheterritoriesw as
dropped. l am not advised whether this al
teration was Intentional or accidental, but
as 1t seems to me that the territories
should be offered the protection
which is accorded to States by the Constitu-
ton, l suggest legislation to that end. 1t
seems to me that whatever views may prevail
as to the policy of recent legislation by which
the army has ceased to be a part of the posse
comitatus, an exception might well be ma de
for permitting the military to assist the civil
Territorial authorities in enforcing the laws OF
the United States. This use of the army would
not seem to be within the alleged evil against
which that legislation was aimed. From
sparseness of population and other circum-
stances it is often quite impracticable to sum-
mons civil posse in places where officers ol
Justice require assistance, and where q mill
tary force is within easy reach.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
with accompanying documents, presents an
elaborate account of the business of that de-
partment. summary OF it would be too ex-
tended for this place. ask your careful at
tention to the report itself. Prominent among
the matters which challenge the attention OF
Congress at its present session is the manage
ment OF our Indian affairs. While this ques-
ton has been q cause OF trouble ana emDar-
| raSSment from the infancy OF une GOVeTnIleNC,
it was but recently that any efforts have been
made for its solution at once serious, deter
mined, consistent, and promising success.
1t has been easier to resort to convenient
makeshifts for tiding over the temporary
difficulties than to grapple with the great
permanent problem, and accordingly the
easier course has almost invariably been pur-
sued 1t was natural, at a time when the ma
tlonaI territory seemed almost llimltable,
and contained many millions OF acres tar be-
yond the bounds of civilized settlement, that
-cl,r inlt pf nn
more than aught else, has been the fruitful
source of our Indian complications. refer,
of course, to the policy of dealing with the
various Indian tribes as separate natlOnall-
ties, of relegating them by treaty stipulation
to the occupancy of immense reservations in
the West, and of encouraging them to live
undisturbed by any earnest and well directed
efforts to bring them under civilizing infiu-
ences The unsatisfactory results which nave
sprung from this policy are becoming appar-
ent to all, as the white settlements nave
crowded the borders of the reservations. The
Indians. sometimes cOntentedly ana some
times against their WILL have been trans
ferred to other hunting grounds, from which
they have. again been diSlOdged whenever
their new found homes have been desired by
the adventurous settlers. These removals and
the frontier collisions by which they have
been preceded have led to frequent and dis
astrous conflicts between the races. 1t
is pro1itlGSs to discuss here which OF
them has been chiefly responsible Tor
the disturbances whose recital oc-
pages of our history. We have to deal with
the appalling fact that, though thousands OF
lives have been sacrificed and hundreds OF
millions of dollars expended in the attempt
to solve the Indian problem, it had, until
within the past few years, seemed scarcely
nearer solution than it was half century
ago; but the Government has of late been
cautiously, but steadily, feeling its way to the
adoption of a policy which has already pro-
duced gratifying results, and which, in my
judgment, If Congress and the Executive ac-
I'M itc Nnr.t ~
ere long from the difficulties which have
hitherto beSet us.
For the success of the efforts now making to
introduce among the Indians the customs
and pursuits of civilized life, and gradu-
ally to absorb them into the masses
of our citizens, having their rights
sponsibilities, m there is imperative
need for legislative action. My suggestions
in that respect will be chiefly such as have
been already called to the attention of Con
gress and have received, to some extent its
consideration.
l. recommend the passage of an act max
ing the laws of the various States and Terri
tories applicable to the Indian reservation
within their borders, and extending the laws
of the State of Arkansas to that portion of the
Indian Territory not occurred by the five civ
iliZed tribes. The Indian should receive the
protection of the law ; he should be allowed
to maintain in coRrt his rights of person and
property. lie has repeatedly begged for this
privilege. Its exercise would be very valua-
Bile to him in his progress toward civilization.
2. OF even greater importance is the meas
ure which has been frequently recommended
by my predecessors in office, and in further
ance of which several bills have been from
time to time introduced in both houses of
Congress. The enactment of general law
permitting the allotment in severalty, to such
Indians at least desire it, of a reasonable
quantity OF land, secured to them by patent
and for their own protection made inaliena-
BILE for twenty or twenty-five years, Is de-
manded for their present welfare and their
nprDpanppt advancement In return for Sncl
considerate action on the part of the Govern
ment there is reason to believe that the lndl-
ans in large numbers would be persuaded to
sever their tribal relations and to engage at
once in agricultural pursuits, and it Is now
for their best interests to conform their man.
ners of life to the new order OF things. by no
greater inducement than the assurance O1
permanent title to the soil can they be led to
engage in the occupation of tilling it. The
well atteSted reports of their increasing IN
terest in husbandry justify the hope and be-
lief that the enactment of such statute as
recommend would be at once attended with
gratifying results. resort to the allotment
system would have direct and powerful in
fuence in diSsoving the tribal bond which
is a prominent feature of savage life
and which tends so strongly to per
petuate it there. l advise liberal ap
schools, because of my confident belief that
such course is consistent with the wises
economy. Even among the most unculturet
Indian tribes there is reported to be general
and urgent desire on the part of the chief
and older members for the education of theil
children. 1t is unfortunate, in view of thi:
fact, that during the past year the mean:
which have been at the command of the In
terror Department for the purpose of IndiaI
instruction, have proved to be utterly made
quate. The success OF the schools which arr
in operation at Hampton, Carlisle and Fores
Grove should not only encourage q more gen
erous provision for the support of those in
stitutions, but should prompt the establish
ment of others of a similar character. They
are doubtless much more potent for gOOt
| than the day schools upon the reservation, a:
| the pupils are altogether separated from thu
| surroundings of savage life and brough
| into constant contact with civilization
| There are many other phases of this subjec
| which are of greatinterest, but which can no
| be included within the becoming limits of th
| communication. They are discussed ably ii
| the reports of the Secretary of the Interio
and of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
POLYGAMY.
For many years the Executive. in his annu
al message to Congress, has urged the neces
sity of strigent legislation for the suppression
of polygamy in the Territories, especially
| Utah. The existing statute for the punish
ment of this odiOus crime so revolving to tn,
moral and religious sense of the community
has been contemptuously violated ever sine,
its enactment. Indeed. in spite of com
mendable efforts ON the part of the au
thorities who represent the United States il
that territory, the law has in very rare in
stances been enforced, and for a cause Il
which reference will presently be made il
practically dead letter. The tact that ad
| tS of ba ,rl,ic