The National tribune., 1881-12-10

have enjOined upon the officials who are charged
with the conduct Of the cases ON the part of the
Government and upon the eminent counsel who
before my accession to the Presidency, were
called to their assistance the duty of prosecuting
with the utmost vigOr of the law all persons
who may be found chargeable with frauds upon
! the postal service.
THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT.
Referring to the report of the Acting Attorney
General, the President calls attention to the
need Of further legislation to secure better and
more expeditions execution of the Federal laws,
| and suggests the Importance of the speedy adOp-
tion of such measures as will grant relief to the
oyerburdened courts, including the Supreme
Court. The disorders in Arizona and on the
Mexican border are also referred to, with the
suggestion that proper legislation be had to sup
press them.
THE INDIANS.
Touching this matter the President says:
First 1 recommend the passage of an act
making the laws of the various States and Ter
ritories applicable to the Indian reservations
within their borders, and extending the laws of
the State of Arkansas to the portion of the In
dian Territory not occupied by the five civilized
| tribes.
| The Indian should receive the protection of
the law. He should be allowed to maintain In
court his rights of person and property. He has
repeatedly begged for this privilege. Its exercise
would be very valuable to him in his progress
| toward civilization.
| Second. Of even greater Importance is a
measure which has been frequently recommended
by my predecessors in Office and in fi1rtherance
of which several bills have been from time to
time introduced in both houses of Congress.
| The enactment of a general law permitting the
allotment in severalty, to such Indians, at least
as desire it, of reasonable quantity of land
secured to them by patent, and for their own
protection made inalienable for twenty or twenty
five years. is demanded for their present welfare
and their permanent advancement.
In return for such cOnsiderate action the part
of the Government, there is reason to believe that
| the Indians in large numbers would be persuaded
to their tribal relations and to engage at once
in agricultural pursuits. Many of them realize the
fact that their hunting days over and that it is
for their best interests to conform their manner
of life to the order of things By no greater in
ducement than the assurance of 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 belief that
| the enactment of such statute as | recommend
would be at attended with gratifying results
A resort to the allotment system would have di-
rect and powerful influence in dssolving the tribal
bond, which is prominent feature of savage life
and which tends so strongly to perpetuate it.
Third. | advise liberal appropriation for the
support of Indian schools because of my confident
belief that such is consistent with the wis
est economy.
Even among the most uncultivated Indian tribes
there is reported to be general and urgent desire
the part of the chiefs and older members for the
| education Of their children. 1t is unfortunate. in
view of this fact that during the past year the
| which have been at the command OF the Interior
| Department for the purpose of Indian instruction
have proved to be utterly inadequate. The success
of the schools which are in operation at Hampton,
Carlisle, and Forest Grove should not only
age more generous provision for the support of
those institutions but should prompt the establish
mont of others of q similar character.
/ They are doubtless much more potent for good
than the day schools upon the reservation, as the
pupils are altogether separated from the surround
ings of savage life, and brought into constant
tact with civilization.
THE MORMoNs.
Regarding the'questiOn of polygamy in the Terri
! tories the President expresses himself follow: :
For many years the Executive, in his annual mes
to Congress- has urged the necessity of string
ent legislation for the suppression of polygamy in
the Territories, and especially in the Territory of
| Utah. The existing statute for the punishment of
this Odious crime, revolving to the moral and
ligiOus of ChriStendOm has been persiStently
and cOntemptuously violated eversince tsenactment.
Indeed, in spite OF commendable efforts the part
of the authorities who represent the United States
in that Territory, the law has IN very instances
| been enforced, and for cause to which reference
will presently be made is practically dead letter.
The fact that adherents of the Mormon Church.
which rests upon polygamy its cornerstone, have
recently been peopling in large numbers Idaho Ari
zona and other of our Western Territories is we'll cal
culated to excite the velieSt interest and apprehen
sion 1t imposes upon Congress and the Executive the
duty of arraying against this barbarOus system all
| the power which, under the Constitution and the
| law, they WELD for its destruction.
| Reference has been already made to the obstacles
which the United States officers have encountered
in their efforts to punish violations of law. Promi-
nent among these obstacles is the difficulty of pro-
curing legal evidence sufficient to warrant a cOnvc
tion even in the of the most notorious offenders.
Your attention is called to a recent opinion of the
Supreme Court of the United States, explaining it's
| Judgment of reversal in the case of Miles, who had
| been convicted of bigany in Utah. The court re-
fers to the fact that the secrecy attending the cee
| bratOn of marriages in that Territory makes the
proof Of pOygamy very ditiicult and the prOpriety
is suggested of modifying the law of evidence which
makes wife incompetent to testify against her
| husband.
| This suggestion is approved. I recommend also
the passage of an act providing that in the Terrific
ries of the United States the fact that has
not dsqualify her witness upon his trial for
that OtfenSe. | further recommend legislation by
which any person sclemnzing marriage in any of
the Territories shall be required under stringent
penalties for neglect refusal, to file certificate
OF such marriage in the Supreme Court of the Ter
ritory.
Doubtless Congress may devise other practicable
measures for obvatng the difficulties which have
hitherto attended the efforts to suppress this in
quity. Iassure you of my determined purpose to CO.
operate with you in any lawful and discreet meas
ures which may be proposed to that end.
AGRICULTURE AND PUBLIC LANDS.
THE message c0mmends to the careful attention
of Congress the suggestions of the Commissioner of