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


tending the laws OF the State OF Arkansas
10 the portion OF the Indian Territory not
occupied by the five civilized tribes.
The Indian should receive the protection
OF the law. He should he allowed TO main-
tain In court his rights Of person and pro-
pcrty. He has repeatedly begged for this
privilege. It's exercise would be very val
liable to him In his progress toward ciyili-
cation.
Second. OF even greater importance Is a
measure which has been frequently recon-
mended by my predecessors in office, and
IN furtherance 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
sseyeralty to such Indians, at least, rs desire
II, OF reasonable quantity Of land secured
TO them by patent, and for their own pro-
lection made inalienablc for twenty or
twenty-five years, Is demanded for their
present welfare and their permanent adj
yancement.
In return for such considerate action on
the part OF the Government, there is reason
TO believe that the Indians in large num-
bers would he persuaded TO sever their
tribal relations and TO engage at once IN
agricultural pursuits. Many OF them real
lie the fact that their hunting days are
/ over, and that 1t is now for their best inter-
ests 10 conform their manner OF life to the
new order OF things. BY no greater in
ducement than the assurance Of permanent
/ title 10 the soil can they be led to engage i'm
/ the occupation Of tilling il.
| The well-attcStcd reports Of their in
creasing interest in husbandry Justify the
! hope and belief that the enactment OF such
"A statute as | recommend would be at once
attended with gratifying results. A resort
TO the allotment system would have direct
and powerful influence I'm dissolving the
tribal bond, which is so prominent fea-
ture Of savage life, and which tends so
strongly to perpetuate it.
EDUCATE THE SAVAGE.
Third. | advise q liberal appropriation
Tor the support OF Indian schools because
OF my confident belief that such course is
consistent with the wisest economy.
Even among The most uncultivated In
dian tribes there is reported to be a gen.
eral and urgent desire on the part OF the
chiefs and older members for the educa-
ton OF their children. II is unfortunate,
in view OF this fact, that during the past
year the means which have been at the
command Of the Interior Department for
the purpose or Indian instruction, have
proved to be utterly inadequate. The sue
cess OF the schools which are In operation
at Hampton, Carlisle, and Forest Grove
should not only encourage more generous
provision for the support OF those institu-
tons, but should prompt the establishment
OF others OF n 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 surroundings Of savage
life and brought into constant contact with
civilization.
There are many other phases OF this sub
ject which are OF great interest, but which
cannot be included within the becoming
limits Of this communication they are dis
cussed ably in the reports Of the Secretary
OF the Interior and the Commissioner OF
Indian Affairs.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
For many years the Executive, i'm his
annual message to Congress, has urged the
necessity Of stringent 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, so revolving to the moral /
and religious sense OF ChristendOm, has |
been perSistcntly and contemptuously vio- /
lated ever since its enactment. Indeed. i'm |
spite Of cOmmendable efforts on the part OF
the authorities who represent the United I
States in that Territory, the law has in I
very rare instances been enforced, and, for .
Il cause TO which reference will presently 1
be made, is practically dead letter.
The fact that adherents OF the Mormon /
Church, which rests upon pOlygamy Us it, /
cornerstone, have recently been peoping /
in large numbers Idaho, Arizona, and ,
other Of our western Territories, is well |
calculated to excite the livcicst interest and /
apprehension. II imposes upon Congress /
End the Executive the duty OF arraying /
against this barbarous system all the power I
which under the Constitution aud the law .
they can WELD for its destruction.
reference has been already made to the .
obstacles which the United States officers f.
have encountered i'm their efforts TO punish .
violations OF law. Prominent among these 4
obstacles is the difficulty Of procuring legal .
evidence sufficient 10 warrant conviction .
even in the case Of the most notorious Of /
Tenders.
FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF P0LYGAMY.
Your attention is called to recent opin- I
States. explaining is judgment of reversal /
in the case of Miles. who had been convict
ed of bigamy in Utah. The Court refers to .
the fact that the secrecy attending the cele-
bration OF marriages i'm that Territory
makes the proof Of polygamy very diff
cult; and the propriety is suggested OF
modifying the law OF evidence which now
makes wife incompetent to testify against
her husband.
This suggestion is approved. ! recon-
mend also the passage Of an act providing
that in the Territories Of the United States
the fact that a woman has been married TO
a person charged with bigamy shall not
disqualify her as a witness upon his trial
for that offence. l further recommend
legislation by which any person solemn
ling a marriage in any of the Territories
shall be required, under stringent penalties
for neglect or refusal, to file certificate Of
such marriage in the Supreme Court Of the
Territory.
Doubtless Congress may devise other
practicable measures for obyiating the diff
culties which have hitherto attended the
efforts to suppress this inquity. | assure
YOU of my determined purpose to cooperate
with YOU in any lawful and discreet mea-
sures which may be proposed to that end.
EDUCATION.
Although our system Of government
does not contemplate that the nation should
provide or support system for the educa-
ton of our people, no measures calculated
to promote that general intelligence and
virtue upon which the perpetuity of our
so greatly depends have ever
been regarded with indifference by Con-
gress or the Executive.
A large portion OF the public domain has
been, from time to time, devoted TO the
promotion of education.
There is now special reason why, by