National Republican., 1885-12-09

restrictions uf the right to remove causes
frt III tie state to the federal couits; per-
miitug appeals 10 the Supreme Court from
the courts Of the District OF Columbia and
tue territories only IN the same cases us
they ere allowed from DtHte courts, aud
Lu6iding against an unnecessary number OF
al pCals from the circuit courts.
1 approve the plan thus outlined, and
itCtn mend the legislation necessary for Its
nl piicntiUn to our judicial system.
epieeent mode Of cOinpensatlng United
States marshals and district attorneys
slGuld, in my opinion, be changed. They
aie allowed 10 charge against the govern
mtnt certain fecs for serviccs, their income
Icing measured by the amount Of such fees
within fixed limit as to their annual ag-
gtegGte. This Is direct inducement for
tltm to make their fees IN criminal eases as
iulCc 0s possible In an effort to reach the
mLXin.um sum permitted AS IN entirely
rttuiUl tOLsCquCucc, unscrupulOus mar
Slris are foLfd encouraging frivolous prose-
Lt!tLs, Grrcsting people on petty charges
Of crime ard transporting them TO distant
place for examination aud trial, for the
IupCse Of earning mileage and other fees.
And district attorneys uselessly attend
criminal examinations far from their places
Of residence, for the express purpose OF
swelling their accounts against the govern
ment. The actual expenses incurred In
these transactions are also charged against
the government
Thus the rights and freedom Of our citi-
2ens are outraged and public expenditures
increased for the purpose of furnishing
pull lie officers pretexts for increasing the
measure OF their compensation.
think marshals aud district attorneys
should lie paid salaries, adjusted by rule
which will make them commensurate with
services fairly rendered.
In connection with this subject | desire
to suggest the adylsability, II II bo found
not obnoxious TO constitutional objection,
Of investing United States commissioners
with the power to try and determine GER
tain violations Of law within the grade Of
misdemeGnors. Such trials might be made
TO depend upon the option of the accused.
1hc multiplication OF small and technical
ofleDscs, especially under the provisions OF
cur internal revenue law, render some
change in our present system very desira-
bic, in the interests of humanity as well us
ecopomy. The district courts are now
crowded with petty prosecutions, involving
punishment, IN cases Of conviction, of
only slight fine, while the parties accused
are harrassed by an enforced attendance
upon courts held hundred of miles from
tEeir homes. IL poor and frIcndlcss, they
are obliged TO remain In Jail during months,
perhaps, that elnpse before n session OF the
court is held, and are finally brought to
trial surrounded by strangers and with but
little real opportunity for defense. In the
meantime frequently the marshal has
charged against the government his fees
for an arrest, the transportation of the &C.
cuscd and the expense of the same, and for
summoniDg witnesses before commits
sioner, a grand jury, and court ; the
witnesses have been paid from the public
D funds large fees and travelling expenses,
and the commissioner and district attorney
have also made their charges against the
government.
I his abuse in the administration of our
criminal law should be remcdicd; and II the
plan above suggested is not practicable,
some other should be devised.
The report Of the Secretary OF the In
ttIior containing an account of the opera.
tons Of this important department, and
much interesting information, will be sub
mitttd for your consideration.
The most intricate and difficult subject In
chaiCe Of this department is the treatment
ard management of the Indians. am sat
isied that some progress may be noted In
their condition as result of prudent ad-
miIistration OF the present laws and regula-
tions for their control.
But 1t is submitted that there Is n lack OF
n fixed purpose or policy on this subject,
which should be supplied. 1t is useless to
dilate upon the wrongs of the Indians, and
rs useless to indulge In the hoartless belief
that because their wrongs are reyenged In
their own atrOcious manner, therefore they
should be eXterminated.
They are within the care OF our govern
ment, and their rights are, or should be,
| protected from invasion by the most solemn
obligations They are properly enough
called the wards OF the government; and II
should be borne In mind that this guardian
ship involves, on our part, efforts for the
| improvement of their condition and the On.
forcGment of their rights. There seems tc
lie general concurrence In the proposition
that the ultimate object Of their treatment
should be their civilization and citizenship
Fitted by these to keep pace in the march o
progress with the advanced civilization
about them, they will readily assimilate will
the mass of our population, assuming thu
responsibilities aud receiving the protection
incident to this condition.
The difficulty appears to be in the seloc
tion Of the means TO be at present employed
toward the attainment OF this result.
T., Our Indian population, exclusive OF those
III Alaska, is reported as numbering 260, 900
nearly all being located on lands set apar
'or their use and occupation, aggregatinl
over one hundred and thirty-four million
Of acres. These lands are included in tn
boundaries Of one hundred and seventy-on
reservations of different dimensions
scattered in twenty-one states and terri
tories, presenting great variations In climat
and in the kind and quality of their soils
Among the Indians upon these several resel
vations there exist the most marked differ
! ences In natural traits and disposition an,
in their progress toward civilization. Will
some are lazy, vicious, and stupid other
are industrious, peaceful, and intelligent
while port on of them are self'supportinl
and independent. and have so far advanced
in civilization that they make their ow
laws, administered through officers OF the
own choice, and educate their children |
schools of their own establishment an
maintenance, Others still retain, In squalC
ard dependence, almost the savagery c
heir natural state
In dealing with this question the desire
manifested by of the Indians should not b
ignored. Here, again, weilnd great divers
ty. With some the tribal relation is oherishe
with the utmost tenacity, while its hol,
upon Others is considerably relaxed ; tn
love OF home is strong with all, and W
there are those whose attachment to a pa
ticular locality Is by no means unyieldipg
the ownership Of their lands In scveralty
much desired by some, while by Others, AM
sometimes by the most civilized, such
distribution would be bitterly opposed
The variation Of their wants, growing ou
of and connected with the character of thei
several locations, should be regarded
Some are upon reservations most fit fc
grazing, but without nocks or herds; an
some, on arabic land, have no agriculture
implements; while some OF the reservation
are double the size necessary to maintain Oh
number of Indians now upon them, In fey
cases perhaps, they should be enlarged.
Add to all this the difference In the ad
ministration Of the agencies. While th
same duties are devolved upon all, the dis
position of the agents, and the manner {
their contact with the Indians, have muc
to do with their condition and welfar,
The agent who perfunctorlly performs HI
duty and slothfully neglects all oppol
tunity TO advance their moral and physics
improvement, and fails to inspire them wit
a desire for better things will accomplls
nothing in the direction Of their civilization
while he who feels the burden of an impo