The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-07

not occupied py tne uVe clVluAed tIlpet,
The Indian should receive the protection
Of the law. He should be allowed to main.
tain in the courts 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-The great importance Of the
measures which have been frequently rec
commended by my predecessors in office,
and in iurtheFnnce OF which several bills
have been introduced in Congress,
the enactment Of II law permittingthe allot-
ment in severaly to such Indians, at least,
as desire it, OF reasonable quantity OF land
securedto by patent, for their own pro-
lection unbelievable tortwenty or twenty
five years, Is demanded for their present
welfare and theirpGrmanent advancement
In return Tor such u Considente action on
the part OF the Government, there Isl
reason to believe that the Indians in large
numbers would be persuaded 10 leave their
tribal relations and to engage at once In
agriculture, II is now for their best in
terests to conform their manner OF life toI
the new order Of things. BY nOgreateF in
duCement than the assurance OF u perma-
nent title to the soil can they be led to en-
gage in the occupation OF tilling 1t. The
well attestsd reports OF their increasing IN
terest to husbandry, justify the hope and
belief that the enactment OF such, q
statute US recommended would be
Mt once attended with gratifying results,
A resort to the allotment system would
have direct and powerful influence in
the dissolution OF the tribal bands, which Is
u 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 course is
consistent with the wsest economy, Even
among the most unCultured Indian tribes
there Is reported to.be u general ndurgent
desire on the part OF the chiefs and older
members for the education Of their chill
dren. 1t is unfortunate, in view OF this
fact, that during the past year the means
which have been ut the command Of the
Interior Department for the purpose Of
In linn instruction hayeprOyed to be utter
" inadequate. The success OF the schools
which are in operation ut Hampton, Car
Isle and Forest Grove should not only
encourage more generous provision Tor
the support OF these institutions 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 reservations, us the pupils
are altogether separated from the sur
rounding savage lie and brought into con-
slant contact with civilization.
There are many other phases OF this sub
ect which are OF great interest, but which
cannot be included within tho becoming
limits Of this communication, They are
discussed ably in the reports Of the Secre:
tary Of the Interior and Commissioner OF
Indian Affairs,
roLYdAMY.
For many years the Executive, in 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 oil Utah.
The existing statute for the punishment Of
this odOus crime so revolving to the moral
and religious sense OF Christendom, has
been persistently and Contemptuously VIC.
lated ever since its enactment Indeed, in
spite Of CommendablG efforts on tho part
OF the authorities who represent the United
States in that territory, the law has in very
raro instances been enforced, and for a
cause, 10 which reference will presently be
made, Is practically Il dead letter
The laCt TINT adherents OF the Mormon
Church, which rests upon polygamy as its
corner stone, have recently been peopling
In largo numbers, Idaho, Arizona and
other Of our Western Territories, Is well
calculated to excite the liveliest interest
and apprehension. II imposes upon Con-
gross and the Executive tho duty OF u law
against this barbarous system and all the
power which, under the Constitution and
law, they can WELD for its destruction.
Reference has been made already 10 the
obstacles which the United States officers
have encountered in their efforts to punish
violations OF the law. Prominent among
the obstacles is the difficulty Of procuring
legal evidence sufficient TO warrant con.
viGtion, even in cnse OF the most
notorious OF them. Your attention is
called to the recent opinion OF the Supreme
Court Of the United States, explaining its
judgment OF reversal In the case OF Miles,
who Ind been convicted OF bigamy in
Utah. The Court refers TO the fact that
the secrecy attending the celebration OF II
marriage In u Territory makes that part Of
poygaIny very difficult; and the propriety
Is suggested Of modifying the law OF evil
dence, which makes wife incompetent to
testify against her husband. This sugges-
ton is approved. l recommend, also, the
passing Of an act providing that in the
Territories OF the United States the fact
that woman has been married to n per.
son charged with bigamy shall not dis
qualify her us a witness upon his trial for
that olltnse. ! further recommend lpgisla-
ton by which any person solemnizing n
marriage in any OF the territories shall be
required under stringent penalties for
neglect or refusal to file n certificate Of
such marriage in the Supreme Court Of the
territory, unless Congress may devise other
practical measures for obviating the diff.
Culties which have heretofore attended the
efforts 10 suppress this iniquity. assure
you OF my determined purpose TO- cooper.
ute with YOU in any lawful and discreet
measures which may be proposed to that
end.
EDUCATION
Although our system OF government does
not contemplate that the nation should pro-
vide or support system for tho education
OF our people, no measure calculated TO
promote that general intelligence and vir.
tue upon which the perpetuity Of our in.
stitutlons SO greatly depends, have ever
been regarded with Indifference by Con-
gress and the Executive. A large portion
OF the public domain has been from time
devoted 10 the promotion OF education.
There Is now special reason why by set.
ting apart the proceeds Of lis sales Of pub.
lie lands or by some other course the Gov.
eminent should aid the work OF education.
Many who now exercise the right Of sui.
frage are unable TO read the ballot which
they cast. Upon many who had Just
emerged from n condition OF slavery we're
suddenly devolvtd the responsibilities Of
citizenship in that portion Of the country
more impoverished by the war
l have been pleased TO learn from the
report Of the Commissioner Of Education
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