The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-12-10

TT1UHUT will WWIWWV
been already called to the attention of Con
gress, ana have received, to some extent, It's
consideration
]. recommend the passage Of an act max
ing tue laws OF The various states and Terri
tories applicable to the Indian reservation
within their borders, and extending the laws
OF the state OF Arkansas to that portion Ot the
indian Territory not occupied by the I'VE CIV
ihzed tribes. the indian should receive the
protection Of the law he should be allowed
to maintain in cOprt his rights OF person ana
property. lie has repeatedly begged for TINS
privilege. It's exercise would be very valua-
bic to him IN his progress to ward civilization.
?. OF even greater Importance is the m 'as.
ure which has been frequently recommended
by my predecessors IN office, and in further
ance of which several bills have been from
time to time introduced in both houses Of
Congress. The enactment of n general law
permitting the allotment in severalty, to such
Indians ut least a. desire II, OF reasonable
quantity OF land, secured to them by patent
and for their own protection made inalienu-
BILE for twenty or Twenty-Five years. is de-
manded for their present welfare and their
permanent advancement. I'm return for such
considerate action on the part of the Govern
ment there is reason to believe that the Indi-
ans in large numbers would be persuaded to
sever their tribal relations and to engage mt
once in agricultural pursuits, and it Is now
for their best interests to conform their man
ners of life 10 the new order of things. By no
greater iuluccmelt than the assurance OF
permanent title to the soil can they be led to
engage in the occupation of tlling it. The
Wen attestcd reports OF their increasing IN
terost in husbHudry Justify the hope and he
het that the enactment OF such statute rs J
recommend would be ut once attended with
gratifying results \ resort t. the allO'm mt
system would have "a direct and powerful in
tiucnce in dissolvin@ the tribal bond which
is "A prominent feature of savage life,
and which tends strongly to per
petuate it there. | advise a liberal APP
preparation for the support of Indian
schools, because OF my confident belief that
such a course is consistent with the wisest
economy. Even among the most uncultured
Indian tribe there is reported to be n general
I n n III iFp nj q Af q iRf
ana older members tor the education Of their
children. 1t j. unfortunate, in view of this
fact, that during the past year the means
which have been mt the command OF the In
terror Department for the purpose Of Indian
instruction, have proved TO be utterly made
quate. The success OF the schools which are
| in operation ut Hampton, Carlisle and Forest
Grove should not only encourage more gen
| erOus provision for the support OF those in
| stitutiOns, but should prompt the establish
ment of others OF Il similar character. They
! are doubtless much more potent for good
| than the day schools upon tn" reservation, as
| the pupils are altogether separated from the
! surroundings of savage life and brought
! into constant contact with civiila ion.
| There are many other phases of this subject
| which are of grcatintercss, but which can not
! be included within the becoming limits of this
| communication. They are discussed ably in
! the reports of the Sccrc .ary OF the Interior
| and of the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs.
POLYGAlGY.
| For many years the Executive, in his annu-
| al message to Congress, has urged the ncrcS
sity OF sti'igent log station for the suppression
| of polygamy in the Territories, especially
! Utah. The existing statute for the punish.
| mcnt of this OdiOuS crime, so revolving to the
| moral and religious sense of the community,
| has been COntemptuOu-ly violated ever since
| its enactment. Indeed, in spite of COM
! mendabe efforts on the part of the au-
| thorities who represent the United States in
! that territory the law has in very rare in
| stances been enforced, and for a cause to
which reference will presently be made, is
| practically Il dead letter The fact that ad-
| herents OF the Mormon Church, which rests
! upon pOlygamy as its corner stone, have re-
Gently been pcoping in large numbers
| Idaho, ArizOna, and other of our Western
| Territories, is well calculated to excite the
| liveliest interest and apprehension IL i'm
| poses upon Con gresS and the Executive the
| duty Of exercising against this DarbarOus syS-
| ten all the powers which, under the COnstitu-
ton and the law, they can WELD for its de-
| stTuCtiO
reference has been already made to the OBJ
| stacles which the United states officers have
! encountered il their efforts to punish the VIC
! lation OF law. Prominent among the obsta-
| Giles the difficulty OF procuring legal evidence
| sufficient 10 warrant II conviction, even in the
case of the most notorious offenders. GOul
| attention is called to the decision of the Su.
preme Court of the United States explaining
| its Judgment of reversal in the case of Miles
who had been convicted of bigamy in Utah
| The Court refers to the fact that the secrosy
attending the celebration OF marriage in that
| Territory makes proof OF pOlygamy very
difficult and the DrODricty is suggested OF
modifying that law of evidence which now
makes the wife incompetent to testify against
her husband. This suggestion is pploYed
l recommend also the passing of an act
providing that in the Territories of the United
States the fact that a woman has been
married to person charged with Digamy
shall not disquality her as witness upon his
| trial for that ofense. further recommend
legislation by which any person sDlemniZing
| a marriage in any of the Territories shall be
| required, under stringent penalties for ne.
| elect or refusal, to file a certificate of such
| marriage in the Supreme Court of the Terri.
tory unless Congress makes or devises other
| practical measures for Obviating the Difficult.
Ties which have hitherto attended the eff
| forts to suppress this iniquty. l assure you
OF my determined purpose to co operate 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 shOnld pro
vide or support system for the education o.
our people, no measures calculated to promote
| that general intelligence and virtue upor
| which the perpetuity of our institutions sc
greatly depends, have ever been regarded
| with indifference by Congress or the EXecu-
| tive. \ large portion OF the public domain
| has been from time to time devoted to the
| promotion of education. There is now n spe,
cial reason why, by setting apart the pro.
ceeds of of Its sales OF public lands, or by
some other course, the Government should
aid the work of education. Many who now
exercise the right of suffrage are unable tc
read the ballot which they cast, and upoT
many who had just emerged from condition
of slavery were suddenly deVOlved the re
sponsibilities of citizenship. In that portion
OF the country most impoverished by war
have been pleased to learn from the report o
the Commissioner of Education that there ha
been lately a commendable increase of inter
est and effort for their instruction, but nj
that can be done by local Legislation
and private generosity should be supple
mented by such aid us can be constitutional
ly afforded by the National Government
If any fund be dedicated to this business /
may be wisely distributed in the diHeren
States, according to the ratio of illiteracy, a
by this means those locations which are mos
in need of such assistance will reap its es
pecial benefit.
AGRICULTURE.
Tho rnlnnrt of the Enrnrlni ssinnnr of nI.iclnl