Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-07

territory seemed almost illmtable and contained
many millions OF acres far south OF the bounds OF
civilized settlements, that policy should have
been initiated which more than aught else has
been the fruitful source OF our Indian complica-
tons refer, OF course, to the policy OF dealing
with the various Indian tribes as separate ma
tionalities-of RELOCATING them by treaty stipula-
tions to the occupancy OF immense reservations in
the west and OF encouraging them to love saw
age life undisturbed by any earnest and we'll
directed efforts to bring them under the influences
Of civilization. The results which have sprung
from this policy are becoming apparent to all
As the white settlements have crowded the bord-
ers Of the reservations, the Indians sometimes
contentedly and sometimes against their will have
been transferred to other hunting grounds from
which they have again been dislodged, whenever
their new-found homes have been found by the
adventurous settlers These removals and the
frontier collisions by which they have often been
preceded have led to frequent and disastrous con-
flicts between the races. 1t is proftless to dis
cuss here which of them has been chiefly respon-
sible for the disturbances whose recital occupies
so large space upon the pages of our history
We have to deal with the appalling facts that
though thousands of lives have been sacrificed
and hundreds Of millions Of dollars expended in
the attempt to solve the Indian problem 1t has
until within the past few years, seemed scarcely
nearer solution than II was half century ago
But the government has Of late been cautiously but
steadily feeling its way to the adoption OF apolicy
which has already produced gratifying results, and
which, in my judgment, is likely, II congress and
the executive accord In its support to relieve us
ere long from the difficulties which have hitherto
beset u.s. For the success OF the efforts now
making to introduce among the Indians the GUS
toms and pursuits OF civilized men, and gradually
to absorb them into the mass OF our citizens,
sharing their rights and hold TO their RESPONSE
bilities, there is imperative need for legislative
action. My suggestions, in that regard, will
be chiefly such as have already been called to
the attention Of congress and have received to
some extent, Its consideration.
First-I recommend the passage Of an act max
ing the laws OF the various states and territories
applicable to the Indian reservations within their
borders and extending the laws OF the state Of
Arkansas to that portion Of the Indian territory
not occupied by the five civilized tribes. The In
dian 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. Its exercise would be
very valuable to him in his progress toward civil
lization.
.Second-Of even greater importance Is a meas
ure which has been frequently recommended 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 general law permitting the allot-
ment in severalty of such Indians at least as de-
sire, OF reasonable quantity Of land secured to
them by patent and for their own protection made
inalienable for twenty or twenty-five years, is
demanded for their present welfare and their per-
manent advancement In return for such consid-
crate act on the part OF the government there Is
reason to believe that the Indians in large num-
bers would be persuaded to sever the tribal rela-
ton and to engage at once in industrial pursuits.
Their tribal days are over and ii is now for their
interests to conform their manner of life to the
new order Of things. By no greater inducement
than the assurance of permanent title to the
soil can they be led to engage in the occupation Of
tiling It, The well-attested reports Of their in
creasing interest in husbandry justify the hope
and belief that the enactment Of such statute as
recommend would be at once attended with
gratifying results A resort to the allotment sys-
TEN would have direct and powerful influence
in dssolving the tribal bond, prominent as fea-
ture Of savage life, and which tends strongly to
perpetuate 1t.
7hird-I advise liberal appropriation for the
support of Indian schools, because OF my conf
dent belief that such course is consistent with
the wisest economy. Even among the most I'M
cultured Indian tribes there is reported to be
general and urgent desire the part Of the chiefs
and older members for the education of their chill
dren. IL IL 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 of Indian instruction have proved to
be utterly inadequate. The success OF the schools
which are in operation at Hampton, Carlisle and
Forest Grove, should not only encourage a more
generous provision for the support Of these nsti-
tutions but should prompt the establishment of
others Of similar character They are doubtless
much more potent for good than the day schools
upon the reservation rs the pupils are altogether
separated lTOll tut suIrOu0QlDgs OF savage lie
and brought into constant contact with civilized
life. There are many other phases of this subject
which are OF great interest but which cannot be
included within the becoming limits of this COM
munication. They are discussed ably in the re-
ports of the secretary Of the interior and the
missioner Of Indians.
THE MORMON QUESTION
For many years the executive, in his annual
message TO congress- has urged the necessity of
Last
gamy in the territories, and especially in the ter
rtory Of Utah. The existing statute for the pun
ishment of this odious crime, so revolving TO the
moral and religious sense of Christendom, has
been persistently and contemptuousy violated
ever since its enactment. Indeed, in spite of the
commendable efforts on the part Of the author
tiles who represent the United States in that ter
ritory, the law has in many instances been vo-
lated and for cause to which reference will pres
emily be made. In fact the law Is practically
dead letter. The fact that the adherents Of the
Mormon church, which rests upon polygamy as
its corner stone, have recently been peopling in
large numbers Idaho Arizona and other of our
western territories is well calculated to excite the
liveliest interest and apprehension 1t imposes
upon congress and the executive the duty of
welding against barbarous system all the
power which under the constitution and law they
can yield for its destruction. Reference has been
already made to the objects which the United
States officers have encountered in their efforts to
punish the violators Of law. Prominent among
the obstacles is the difficulty OF procuring legal
evidence sufficient to warrant conviction, even
in the case of the most notorious offenders. Your
attention is called to a recent opinion Of the SUI
preme court Of the United States explaining its
judgment Of the reversal In the OF Miles, who
had been convicted of bigamy in Utah. The
court refers to the fact that the secrecy at
tending the celebration Of marriages In that
territory makes the proof Of polygamy very
difficult and the propriety is suggested Of
amending the law OF evidence which now
makes a wife incompetent to testify against
her husband. This suggestion is approved.
recommend also the passage of an act providing
that in the territories Of the United States the
fact that woman has been married to a person
charged with bgamy shall not disquslify her as
a witness upon his trial for that offence.
further recommend legislation by which any per-
son solemnizing marriage in any OF the terri
tories shall be required under stringent penalties
for neglect refusal to file certificate of such
marriage in the supreme court of the territory.
unless congress may devise other practical mea-
sures for obviating the difficulties which have
hitherto attended the efforts to SUPPRESS this in