Arizona silver belt. [volume] (Globe City, Pinal County, Ariz.) 1878-19??, 1883-09-15
Saturday, September, Is. 1888.
Gen. Crooks Position.

The San Francisco Chronicle of the
9th, in leading editorial, under the
caption Of General Crooks Position"
takes singular and altogether novel
view of Crooks action in regard to
the surrendered Indians, and holds
that the terms accorded by Grant to
Lee at Apomattox, should be extended
to the Chiricahuas. 1t is certainly the
first time in history, either ancient or
modern, that robbers and murderers
have been accorded the same terms
that we've given to an army engaged
in honorable warfare. Had Lees
army gone through the country slay-
ing woman and children, beating out
the brains of children against the
nearest rock or tree, outraging women
and then mutilating them, burning
houses and destroying everything in
their way, we do not think Grant
would have given Lee such honorable
terms. The stage robber Stays and
robs only men, he is careful not to
molest women and children, yet we
treat him to rope and limb. The
Indians slay all, and we give them the
terms of honorable warfare, and pro.
vide for their future subsistence
What right had Crook to make terms
ofpeace with any kind of an enemy in
Il foreign country at peace with oul
own? What right would Grant have
had to make terms with Lee in Mexi
co? Every officer of the army is
sworn to support the constitution ant
the laws of the United States. The
law provides that murderers shall bt
hanged, after trial and sentence
Crook pardons before trial, thus as
suming authority that he, or no otheI
man, or body has, and violates hi
oath in violating the constitution
The constitution provides that th'
military shall, at all times, be subor
dinant 10 the civil power, exceI
in time of war, when the civil author
ity cannot be enforced, which fac
must be ascertained by legislative au
thority, and by such authority de
clared. If, then, these Chiricahua
return to the reservation, all civi
proof can reach them unless prevented
by Crook, in which event the who'll
population of the Territory can b.
summoned as posse to enforce tht
writ. 1t is we'll established fact tina
the Indians with whom Crook treated
in the Sierra Madre, nearly all, if no
every adult man, stand in the light o
felons, having trangressed the law 81
frequently that it would be difficult t.
find an individual who Is not guilt,
of several offences. 1t would perhap
be we'll to advise Gen. Crook that h
has not the power to pardon crime
That power is only delegated to tn
Executive of the United States, or t.
the Governor of State or Territory
and then only after trial and convic
tion. The law presumes every on
innocent, until guilt is established b.
Judgment of court. Then in tina
event, of what value is Crooks prom
ise of immunity for past offenses
What would it avail the Indians il
the event of warrant of arrest bein
issued, and placed in the hands of
U. s. marshal, sheriff or constable
commanding him to execute the same
Should Gen. Crook, in fulfilment q
his promise, resist the execution of tn
magistrates writ, he would thereb
place himself in opposition to the clvi
law, and subject himself to fine an
imprisonment.
s.4