The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-23
sideration to the several other recommends
tions contained in his report.

sideration to the several other recommends.
tions contained in his report.
, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report of the encouragement contains
q history of the conduct of the department of
justice during the last year, aud a number of
valuable suggestions as to needed legislation
and I invite your careful attention to the
same.
The present mode of compromising United
States marshals and district attorneys should
in my opinion be changed. They are allowed
to charge against the government certain
fees for services, their income being measured
by the amount of such fees within q fixed
limit as to their annual aggregate. This is q
direct inducenent for them to make their
fees in criminal cases as large as possible
in an effort to reach the maximum
sum permitted. As an entirely natu.
raj consequence, INSCRIPTIONS marshals are
found encouraging frivolous prosecutions
arresting people on petty charges of crime
examination and trial, for the purpose OF
earning mileage and other fees. And dis.
trict attorneys uselessly attend criminal
examinations far from their places of resi-.
dencc for the express purpose of swelling
their accounts against the government.
The actual expenses inquired in these trans
actions are also charged against the govern:
ment. Thus the rights and freedom of ou1
citizens are outraged and public expenditures
increased for the purpose of furnishing pub.
lie officers pretextS for increasing the meas
ure of their compensation.
I think marShalS and district attorneys
should be paid salaries adjusted by q rule
which will make them commensurate with
services fairly rendered.
THE INDIANS.
The report of the secretary Of the interior,
containing an account of the operations of
this important department., and much inter.
esting information will be submitted for your
consideration.
The most intricate and difficult subject in
charge of this department is the treatment
anl management of the Indians. I am salts
fisl that some progress may be noted in their
condition as a result Of q prudent administra-
ton of the present laws and regulations for
tn cir control.
But it is submitted that there is lack of a
flel purpose or policy on this subject which
should be supplied. 1t is useless to dilate
uoon the wrongs of the Indians, and as use,
les to indulge in the heartless belief that be-
cluse their wrongs are revenged in their own
atrocious manner, therefore they should be
e.iterminated.
They are within the care of our go'
ment, and their rights are, or should be, pro
tected from invasion by the most solemn obi
cations. They are properly enough called
the wards of the government: and it should
be borne in mind that this guardianship in
! wolves, on our part, efforts for the improve
ment of their condition and the enforcement
of their rights. There seems to be general
concurrence in the proposition that tne
ultimate object of their treatment should
be their civilization and citizenship. Fitted
bv these to keep pace in the march of pro-
eress with the advanced civilization about
them, they will readily assimilate with the
mass of our population, assuming the respon-
sibilities and receiving the protection Incl
dent to this condition. The difficulty appears
to be in the selection of the means to be at
present employed toward the attainment OF
this result.
The history of all the progress which has
been made in the civilization of the Indian, l
| think will disclose the fact hat the begin
ming has been religious teaching, followed by
or ACCOMPANYING secular education. While
the self-sacriticing and pious men and women
who have aided in this good work by their
independent endcavor have for their reward
the beneficent results of their labor and the
consciousness of Christian duty well per
acknowledged by all who under the law are
charged with the control and management OF
our Indian wards.
What has been said indicates that in TIT
present condition of the Indians, no attemp-
should be made to apply a fixed and unyleld
ing plan of action to their varied and varying
needs and circumstances.
The Indian bureau, burdencd as it IS with
their general oversight and with the details
of the establishment, can hardly possess itself
of the minute phases of tho particular cases
needing treatment: and thus the propriety OF
creating an in~strumentality auxiliary to
those already established for the care OF the
Indians suggests itself.
recommend the passage of a law author
izing the appointment Of six commissioners,
three of whom shall be detailed from the
army, to be charged with the duty Of a care
full inspection from time to tim OF all the
Indians upon our reservations or subject to
the care and control Of the government, with
a view of discovering their exact CONDITION
and needs, and determining whats steps shall be
taken on behalf of the government to improve
their situation in the direction of their self
support and complete civilization; that they
ascertain from such inspection what, II any,
of the reservations may be reduced IN area,
and in such cases what part, not needed TOR
Indian occupation. may be purchased by the
government from the Indians and disposed of
for their benefit; what, if any, Indians may,
with their consent, be removed to other re-
%servations, with q view of their concentra-
ton and the sale on their behalf of their
abandoned reservations; what Indian
lands now held in common should
be allotted in severalty; in what
manner and to what extent the Indians upon
the reservations can be placed under the pro
lection of our laws and subjected to their
penalties: and which, if any, Indians should
be invested with the right of citizenship. The
powers and functions Of the commissioner In
regard to these subjects should be clearly de-
fined, though they should, in conjunction
with the secretary Of the interior, be given
all the authority to deal definitely with the
questions presented, deemed safe and con-
sistent.
THE PUBLIC LANDS
It is not for the common benefit OF the
United States that q large area of the pub
lie lands should be acquired, directly. or
through fraud, in the hands of a single lndl-
yidual. The nations strength is in the peo-
pie. The nations prosperity is in their pros
perity. The nations glory is in the equality
of her Justice. The nations perpetuity is in
the patriotism of all her people. Hence, as
disposal of the public lands should have IN
view the original policy, which encourages
many purchasers Of these lands for homes
and discouraged the massing of large
areas. Exclusive of Alaska, about three
ffths of the national domain has been sold or
subjected to contract or grant: Of the re-
naming two-ffths a considerable portion is
either mountain or desert. A rapidly in
c.easing population creates a growing de.
mand for homes, and the accumulation OF
wealth inspires all eager competition to OBJ
ain the public land for speculative purposes.
In the future this collision Of interests will be
more marked than in the past, and the excel
ton of the nations trusti in behalf of oursettlers
will he more dificnlt. therefore commend