The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-12-07

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 part of the posse
c0nastatus, an exception might well be made
| 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 the sparse
ness of the population and other
circumstances it is often quite impractica-
bic to summon civil posse in places where
officers of justice require assistance. and
where a military force is within easy reach.
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
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. Prom
inent among the matter which challenges
the attention of congress at its present
session is the management of Indian ar
| fairs. While this question has been cause
of trouble and embarrassment from the in
fancy of the government, it is but recently
that any effort has been made for its so
luton, at once serious, determined, con-
sistent and promising success. 1t has
been easier to resort TO convenient make
shifts for tiding over the temporary diff
culties than to grapple with the great per-
manent problem. And accordingly the
easier course has almost invariably been
pursued. Itwas natural at time when the
National territory seemed almost illimitable
and contained many millions of acres far
west of the bounds of civilized settle
ment that policy should have been initia-
ted which more than ought else has been
the fruitful source of our Indian complica
tions. I refer, of course, to the policy OF
dealing with the various Indian tribes as
separate nationalities, of regulating them
by treaty stipulations to the occupancy OF
immense reservations in the west, and OF
encouraging them to life undisturbed by
any earnest and well directed efforts to
bring them under the influences of civiliza-
ton. The unsatisfactory results which
haYe sprung from this policy are growing
apparent to all. AS the white settlements
have crowded the borders of these reserva-
| tions, the Indians, sometimes contentedly
and sometimes against their will, have
been transferred to other hunting grounds,
from which they have again been di slodg-
ed whenever their new found homes have
been desired by the adventurous settlers
These removals and the frontier collisions
by which they have often been preceded,
have led to frequent and disastrous con-
flies between the races. It is prefitless to
discuss here which of them has been
chiefly responsible for the disturbances
whose recital occupies so large space
upon the 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 ex-
pended in the attempt to solve the Indian
problem, it had until within the past
| few years, seemed scarcely near er
solution than it was half century ago.
But the government has of late been eau
tiously but steadily feeling its way to the
adoption of policy of which has already
produced gratifying results, and which, in
my Judgment, is likely, if congress and the
executive accord in its support, to relieve
us ere long from the difficulties which have
hitherto beset US. For the success Of the
! efforts now making to introduce among
the Indians and customs and pursuits OF
civilized life, and gradually to aoserb them
| into the mass of our citizens sharing their
rights and hold to their responsibilities,
there is imperative need for Legislative
action. My suggestions in that respect
| will be chiefly such as has been already
called to the attention Of Congress and
has received, to some extent, its consider
alton.
| First, recommend the passage of an act
making the laws of the various States and
| Territories applicable to the Indian reser-
vations within their borders, and extend
| ing the laws of the State of Arkansas to
the portion Of the Indian Territory not oc-
cupied by the five civilized tribes. The
I ,sIr.r of
law He should be allowed to maintain in
court his rights of person and property.
He has repeatedly begged for this privi-
lege Its exercise would be very valuable
to him in his progress toward civilization.
| Second, of even greater Importance is q
measure which has been frequently rec
| commended by my predecessors in office,
1 and in furthsrance 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, as
| desire it of a reasonable quantity OF land
/ secured to them by patent and, for theil
| protection, made inalienable from twenty
4 to twenty-five years, is demanded for
their present welfare and their permanent
| advancement
In return for such considerate action on
part of the Government, there is reason tt
believe that the Indians in large number
would be persuaded to sever their triba
relations and to engage at once in agri
cultural pursuits. They would under
stand that the old days were oyer and itha
it was now for their best interests to con
/ firm their manner of life to the new order
of things. By no. greater induce
ment than the assurance of perma
nent title to the soil, can they &c led tc
! occupation of tilling it. The wei
.attested reports of their increasing interes
in husbandry, justify the hope and belle
that the enactment of such statute, as
recommend would at once be attended
with gratifying results. A resort to tn.
allotment plan would have a direct ane
powerful influence in dissolving the triba
bond which is prominent feature IL
savage life and which tends so strongly Il
perpetuate it there. / advise liberal ap
preparation for the support OF Indlal
schools because of my confident belle
that such q course is consistent with tn.
wisest economy. Even among the mos
uncultured Indian tribes there is reported
to be general and urgent desire on th'
E part of the chiefs and other members TO
the education of their children. 1t is un
fortunate, in view of this fact, that dur
ing the past year the means which hav'