The Portland daily press., 1881-12-07
WEDNESDAY MORNING. DEC. 2.

quired to protect the boundary line between
Kansas and the Indian Territory. The only
punishment that can at present De innicted Is
the forcible removal of the intruders and the
imposition of pecuniary fine. which in most
cases il is impossible to collect. There should
be a penalty by Imprisonment in such cases.
The War department should not be left by
reason of inadequate provision for the Indian
bureau to contribute for the maintenance OF
Indians as at present.
COAST DEFENcEs.
Referring othe report of the chief engineers
ON our fortficstions, especially on the coast
defences, the President recommends an in
crease of the strength of the engineer battalion
by which the efficiency OF our torpedo system
would be improved.
THE NAVY.
call your especial attentian also to the ap-
pended report of the advisory board, which
was convened to devise suitable measures for
increasing the efficiency of the navy, and par
ticularly TO the report as to the character and
number of vessels necessary TO place it on a
footing commensurate with the necessities of
the government. / cannot too strongly urge
upon YOU my conviction that every considera-
fion of national safety, economy and honor i'm
peratiyely demands thorough rehabilitation
OF our navy with full appreciation of the
the head of that department and of the advis-
ory beard MIST involve a large expenditure of
the public moneys. l earnestly recommend
such appropriations as will accomplish the end
which seems to me so desirable Nothing can
be more inconsistent with true public economy
than Withholding the means necessary to ac-
complsh the objects intrusted by the conssitu-
ton to national legislation. One of those OBJ
jects, and one which is of paramount import
ance is declared by our fundamental law to be
the provision for the common defence"
Surely nothing is more essential to the defence
off h. fad n al I'm hNI
the efficiency of our navy.
We have for many years maintained with
foreign governments the relations of honorable
peace and that such relations may be perma-
nent, is desired by every patriotic citizen OF
the republic. But If we read the teachings of
history, we shall not forget that in the life of
every nation emergencies arise when resort TO
arms can alone save it from dishonor No
danger from abroad now threatens this people,
nor have we any cause to distrust the friendly
professions of other governments But for
avoiding as well as for repelling danger that
may threaten US in the future, We must be pre-
pared 10 enfore any means which we think
wise to adopt. We must be ready to defend
our hsrbors against aggression, to protect over
the highways of commerce the varied interest
of our foreign trade and persons and property
of our citizens abroad, to maintain everywhere
the honor of our flag and the distinguished
position which we may rightfully claim among
the nations of the world.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Reviewing the Postmaster's Generals report
he invites the attention of Cong ess to sys-
tenn of savings repositories in connection with
the Post Office Department, and says nearly
all the more expensive routes have been SUI
perseded BY railroad service. The cost of star
service must therefore rapidly decrease in the
Western States and Territories
have enjoined upon officials who are charged
with the conduct Of the Star route cases on the
part of the Government, and upon the emf
nent counsel who, before my accession to the
Presidency, were called to their assistance, the
duty OF prosecuting with the utmost rigor of
the law all persons who may be found chargea-
BILE with frauds upon the postal service.
FEDERAL COURTS.
Referring to the Attorney Generals sugges-
ton as to the necessity of modifying the pres
ent system of the courts of the United States,
. necessity due to the large increase of bust
that in view of the fact that Congress has al
ready given much consideration to this SUBJ
ject, / make no suggestion as TO detail but
express the hope that your deliberations may
result in such legislation as will give early re-
lief TO our overburdened courts.
THE COW BOY RAIDS.
Referring to thedisturbances during the pabt
year in the Territory of Arizona by band of
armed desperadoes known as "cow boys"
nrobably Numbering from 80 to 100 men, whom
SAe local authorities have been unable to re-
press the President says it is worthy of consid-
GRAFTON whether acts necessarily tending to en-
broil the United States with the nelghboring
governments should not be declared crimes
against the United States. Some of the incur
sions alluded to may perhaps be within the
scope of the law. 1t may perhaps be Thought
proper TO provide that setting on foot within
our own territory of brigandage and armed
maraudiDg expeditions against friendly nations
and their citizens shall be punishable as an Of
fence against the United States. AS it seems
TO me that the territories should be offered the
protection which is accorded to States by the
constitution, suggest legislation to that end.
It seems to me. too, that an exception might
well DO made for permitting the military to as
sist the civil territorial authortios in enforcing
the laws of the United States. 1t is often
impracticable to summon civil posse in
places where officers of justice require
assistance and where military force is with
in easy reach.
THE INDIAN DIGESTION.
1t is but recently that any effort has
been made for the solution of tie In
dian question, at once serious, determined
consistent and promising success. 1t is profit
less 10 discuss here which of the many make
shifts of our pciicy 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 extended
in the attempt to solve the Indian problem, it
has until within the past few years seemed
scarcely nearer a solution than it was half
century ago. But the government has been
cautiously but steadily feeling its way to the
adoption of policy which has already pro-
duced gratifying results, and which in my
Judgment is likely, if Congress and the execu-
tive accord, to relieve us ere long from diff
culties which have hitherto beset us.
First, recommend the passing 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
Indian Territory not occupied by the five civil
lied tribes. The Indian should receive the
protection of the law. He should be allowed
to maintain in court his rights of person and
He has repeatedly begged for this
Its exercise would be very valuable
to him in his progress toward civilization.
Second, of even greater importance is the
enactment of general law permitting allot-
ment in severalty to such Indians at least as
desire it of reasonable quantity of land Sc
cured to them by patent and for their own pro-
lection made inalienable for 20 or % years
There is reason to believe that Indians in large
numbers would be persuaded to enter the trib
airy relations and to engage at once in iDdust-
rial pursuits By no greater inducement than
the assurance of permanent title to the soil can
they be led to engage in the occupation of till
ing 1t and the enactment of such a statute az
would have direct and potent
influence in dissolving the tribal band which
is so prominent feature of savage life. ] ad-
wise liberal appropriation for the support of In
dian schools because of my confident belief
that that course is consistent with the wisest
economy among the most uncultivated Indian
tribes II is unfortunate that during the past
year the means which have been at the COM
mand of the Interior department for the pur-
pose of Indian instruction have proved to be
inadequate. The success of the schools which
are in operation at Hampton, Carlisle and For
est Grove should not only encourage more
generous provision for the support of those in
situations but should prompt the establishment
of others.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
The existing statute for punishment of the
odious crime OF polygamy so revolving to the
moral and religious sense of Christendom has
been persis;ently and contemporary violated,
ever since its enactment. Indeed in spite of
commendable efforts on the part of the author
ities who represent the United States, the law
is practically dead letter. The fact that ad-
herents of the Mormon church which rests up
on polygamy as its corner stone have recently
been peopling in large numbers Idaho, Arizona
and others of our western territories is well
calculated TO excite the liveiest interest and
apprehension.
The fact of secrecy attending the celebration
of marriage in the territory makes the proof of
poly gamy very difficult, and the propriety is
suggested of modifying the law of evidence
which now makes a wife incompetent to testi-
T. 1865 - - VI - =