The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-12-13


Iswel q . ~ llez Gln - i 81,
t0rlal 9ovefnmeNk ~ ectinn ~ q.
United etAte1 a9azElas k0n1e ~
lence g this governments w0uld b
pOWeE1e9g 10 render assistance.
The act Of 1895, chapter s.. PISSED "a
o time when Territorial R0voKnmenfsfe
ceived little attention lkOm Congress
enforced this duty OR The United EtaEei
% to the States. But the oct Of 1901,
chapter 30, applied also 10 Territories
Thia law seems 20 have remained b
force until revision Of the statntes. when
provision for Territories Waa dronped
I am not advised whether this alter,
ton was intentional OF accidental. but 4
seems to me the Territories should b
offered protection which d accorded e
States BY the Constitution. / sue.
gest legislation to that end. It aoema
to me, too, that whatever views may
prevail as TO the policy Of recent IeRis.
lation, by which the army has ceased 20
be q part of the posse commitAtus, an
exception might well be made for per.
hitting the military TO assist the civil
Territorial authorities In enforcing the
laws Of; the United States. This use Of
the army would no3 seem to be within
the alleged eva against which that legis.
lation was aimed. From sparseness Of
population, and other circumstances, Il
Is often quite impracticable to summon
q civil posse IN places where officers Of
justice require assistance, and where
q military force Is within easy reach.
rxru xNrr,v Nrr
The report of the secretary Of the
interior, with accompanying documents,
presents an elaborate account of the
business Of that department. A sum
mary of it would be too extended for
this place. / ask your careful attention
to the report itself. Prominent among
the matters which challenge the atten-
ton of Congress at its present session il
the management of our Indian affairs.
While this question has been a cause Of
trouble and embarrassment from the
infancy of the government, it is but re-
Gently that any effort has been made for
its solution, at once serious, determined,
consistent and promising success.
It was natural, at q time when the
national territory seemed almost illimi-
table and contained many millions Of
acres far outside the bounds of civilized
settlements, that q policy should have
initiated which more than aught else
has been the fruitful source OF our In
dian complications.
Gefer, Of course, to the policy Of
dealing with the various Indian tribes as
separate nationalities, of RELOCATING
them by treaty stipulation to the occu-
pancy Of immense reservations In the
West, and Of encouraging them to live
savage lives, undistslrbe by any earnest
and well directed efforts to bring them
under the influence Of civilization. The
unsatisfactory results which have sprung
from this policy are becoming apparent
to all, 60 the white settlements have
crowded the borders Of the feser.
vatiOns. The Indians, sometimes con-
tentedly and sometimes against their
will, have been transferred to other
hunting grounds from which
they have again been dis-
lodged whenever theirnew found homes
have been desired by the adventurous
settlers. These removals, and the from
tier collisions by which they have often
been preceded, have led to frequent and
disastrous conflicts between the races.
It is profitless to discuss here which Of
them has been chiefly responsible for
the disturbances whose recital occupies
30 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 expended In the
attempt to solve the Indian problem, Is
has within the last few years seemed
scarcely nearer q. solution than It was
half q century ago; but the government
has been cautiously but steadily feeling
its way to the adoption Of q policy,
which has already produced gratifying
results, and which In my judgment s
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
the customs and pursuits Of civilized
life, and gradually to absorb them into
the mass Of our citizens, sharing their
rights and holding to their responsibili-
ties, there Is imperative need for legis.
lative action. Ny suggestion IN that
regard will be chiefly such Is have been
already called to the attention Of Con-
gress, and have received to some extent
its consideration: Fir1t, / recomend the
passage of an act making the laws
of the various States and Territories ap-
plicable to the Indian reservations
within their borders, and extending the
laws Of the State Of Arkansas to the
portion Of the Indian Territory not occu-
pied 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. It's exercise would
be very valuable to him b his progress
toward civilization.
Second, Of even greater importance IL
. measure which has been frequently
recommended by my predecessor In
once, and Ia furtherance Of which
several bills have been from time to
time introduced IN both houses Of Con.
gress. The enactment Of Q general
law permitting the allotment IA several
ty, to such Indians at least &c desire IL,
81 . reasonable quantity az land secured
g them by patent, and for then protec-
tion made inalienable for twenty or
twenty-five years, s demanded for
their present welfare and their
permanent advancement. In return
Tor such considerate action en- the
part Of the government there b
reason 20 believe that the indians, Ia
large numbers, would be persuaded 70