The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-07


suited In the presentation OF Indictment,
against persons formerly connected wifi
that service accusing them OF offence,
against the United STATES. have cnjoined
upon the officials who are charged with tbs
fonduct OF the cases on the part of Tho
government, and upon the eminent counsel
VINO, before my accession TO the presiden.
cy, were called TO their assistance, the duty
OF prosecuting with the utmost yigor q,
the law all persons who may be found
chargeabie with frauds upon the postal ser.
vice.
THE ACTING ATToESEY-GENERAL
calls attention to the necessity Of modify.
ing the present system OF the courts OF the
ohited States--a necessity due 20 the large
increase OF business, especially in the SUI
preme Court. Litigation In our Federal
tribunals became greatly expanded after
the close OF the late war. So long as that
expansion might be attributable TO the alb
normal condition in which the community
found Itself immediately after the return OF
peace, prudence required that no change
pe made In the Constitution OF our judicial
tribunals.
But 1t has now become apparent that an
immense increase OF litigation has directly
resulted from the wonderful growth and
deyelopment2of the country. There is no
ground for belief that the business OF the
United States courts will ever he less in
volume than at present. Indeed, that IL is
likely to he much greater is generally re-
cognizcd by the bench and bar.
In view Of the fact that Congress has
already given much consideration 10 this
subject, make no suggestion rs to detail.
hut express the hope that your delibera-
tions may result in such legislation as will
give early relief to our oycrburdened
courts.
The Acting Attorney General also calls
attention TO the disturbance Of the public
tranquility during the past year in the
Territory Of Arizona. A band OF armed
desperadoeS, known rs "Cow Bows" pro-
badly numbering from fifty 10 one hundred
men, have been engaged for months in
committing acts OF lawlessness and br1l-
tality which the local authorities have been
unable TO rcpress. The deprcdatiOns OF
these "Cow Boys" have also extended
into Mexico. which the marauders reach
from the Arizona frontier. With every
disposition 30 meet the eXigencics Of the
case, / am embarrassed by lack Of authority
to deal with them effectualy.
THE PUNISHMENT OF CRIMES
committed within Arizona should ordina-
rily, OF course, be left to the Territorial
authorities; but il is worthy Of considera-
ton whether acts which necessarily tend
to embroil the United States with neigh
boring Governments should not be declared
crimes against the United States. Some of
the incursions alluded TO may perhaps be
within the scope OF the law Revised Stat
utes, section $3.50 forbddng "military
expeditions or enterprises" against friend
ly States; but in view OF the speedy assem-
bling Of your body, | have preferred to
await such legislation rs in your wisdom
the occasion may seem TO demand.
II may. perhaps, be thosght proper to
provide that the setting on foot within our
own territory Of brigandage and armed
marauding expeditions against friendly ma
lions and their citizens shall be punishable
a. an offence against the United States.
| will add that in the event Of q request
from the Territorial government for pro-
lection by the United States against % do
nestle violence" this Government would
be powcrless TO render assistance.
The act OF 1895, chapter SO, passed at a
time when territorial governments re-
ceived little attention from Congress, en-
forced this duty Of the United States only
as TO the State governments. But the act
Of 1907, chapter 80, applied also TO Terri
tories. This law seems to have remained
in force until the revision of the statutes,
when the provision for the Territories was
dropped. 1 am not advised whether this
alteration was intentional or accidental,
but. as it seems to me that the Territories
should be offered the protection which If
accorded the States by the Constitution, |
suggest legislation TO that end.
USE OF THE MILITARY.
1t seems to me, too, that whatever views
may prevail rs to the policy Of recent lcgis-
lation by which the army has ceased to be
a part Of the posse cOmitGfuS. an exception
might well be made for permitting the mill
itary TO assist the civil Territorial authOri-
ties in enforcing the laws OF the United
States. This use OF the army would not
seem TO bc within the alleged evil against
which that legislation was aimed. From
sparseness Of population and other cIrcum-
stances il Is often quite impracticable 10
summon a civil posse in places where Off
GERS OF justice require assistance, and where
Il military force is in easy reach.
TIE REPORT OF frE SECRETARY OF THE
with accompanying documents, presents
an elaborate account OF the business OF that
department. A summary OF it would be
too extended for this place. / ask your
careful attention TO the report itself.
Prominent among the matters which
the attention of Congress at it,
present session is the management Of our
Indians affairs. While this question has
been Il cause of trouble and embarrassment
from the infancy of the Government, it is
but recently that any effort has been made
for its solution ut once serious, determined,
and promising success.
IL has been easier to resort TO conye-
nient make-shifts for tiding over tempo
rary difficulties than to grapple with the
great permanent problem, and, according
Nv, the easier course has almost invariably
been pursued.
II was natural, at time when the ma
tional territory seemed almost illimitablc
md contained many millions OF acres far
outside the bounds Of civilized settlements,
hat a policy should have been initiated
which more than aught else has been the
fruitful source Of
ORR INDIAN COMPLICATIONS.
| refer, of course, 10 the policy OF deal
ng with the various Indian tribes rs sepa-
.ate nationalities, OF RELOCATING them by
reaty stipulations to the occupancy OF inn
nense reservations in the West, and OF en- /
,ouraging them to live savage life, undis-
urbed by any earnest and well-directed /
,fIorts TO bring them under the influences OF
civilization.
The unsatisfactory results which have I
prung from this policy are becoming APP /
parent TO all. !
As the white settlements have crowded /
he borders of the reservations, the In
lians, sometimes contentedly and some
lines against their will, have been trans
erred to other hunting-grounds, from
4. 4