The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-12-17

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 foes
! for service, their incomes being measured by the
an cunt of snch fees within "a liked limit 10 their
annual aggregate. This Is n direct inducement
| for theni 10 make their fees I'm criminal cases
| large possible in nm effort TO reach the
maximum sum permitted. As an entirely
natural consequence INSCRIPTIONS Marshals
are found encouraging frivolous prosecu-
lions. arrestng people ON petty charges OF
crime and transporting them 70 distant
purpose OF earning mileage and other fees
ana District Attorneys uselessly attend criminal
examinations far from their places OF residence
| for the express purpose of swelling their nc
counts against the Government. The actual ex-
penses incurred in these transactions are always
| charged against the Government. Thus the
rights and freedom Of our citizens are outraged
and public expenditures increased for the pur-
pose OF furnishing public officers pretexts for in
creasing the measure Of their compensation. L
| think Marshals and District Attorneys should be
paid salaries adjusted by rule which will make
them commensurate with services fairly rem
dered.
PUNIsHrNG MISCELLANEOUS.
| In connection with the subject, desire TO sug
| gest the ACCESSIBILITY, IL it be found not obnox-
| ious TO constitutional objection, OF investing
! United States Commissioners with the power TO
/ try and determine certain violations of law
| within the grade OF misdemeanors. Such trials
might be made to depend upon the option OF the
accused. The multiplication of small and tech
| nical offenses especially under the provisions
OF our Internal Revenue law, renders some
| change i'm our present system very desirable, in
| the interests of humanity as well as economy
| The District Courts are now crowded with
| petty prosecutions, involving punishment in
! case OF conviction, OF only n slight fine, while
| the parties accused are hnrassod by an en-
| forced attendance upon the courts held hun
| dreds Of miles from their homes III poor and
! friendless they are obliged TO remain in Jail,
| and months, perhaps, elapse before II session
| OF the court is held, and are finally brought
TO trial surrounded by strangers, and
Will lint mi w
| In the meantime frequently the Marshal has
| charged against the Government his fees for an
arrest, the transportation OF the accused and the
| expense of the same; and for suInmoning wit
| nesses before a Commissioner Grand Jury
and court, the witnesses have been paid from
! the public funds large fees and travelling ex-
penses, and the Commissioner and District At
| torney have also made their charges against the
| Government This abuse in the administration
| Of our criminal law should be remeded, and il
the plan above suggested is not practicable,
| some other should be devised.
| INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
| The report of the Secretary of the Interior,
containing nm account of the operation of this
important department and much interesting in
formation, Will be submitted for your considera-
ton. The most intricate and difficult subject in
charge of this department is the treatment and
management OF
| THE INDIANS.
I am satisfied that some progress may be noted
in their condition as u result OF Il prudent
| administration OF the present laws and
regulations for their control; but il is sub
a
policy on this subject which should be supplied.
1t is useless to diate upon the wrongs of the In
dians, and as useless to indulge in the heartless
belief that because their wrongs are revenged
in their own atrocious manner, therefore they
should be eXterminated.
They are within the Of our Government,
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 il should be borne in mind
that this guardianship involves on our part eff
| their
theIenforcement Of their rights.
There seems to be general concurrence in the
proposition that the ultimate object of their
| treatment should be their civilization and citi-
zenship Fitted by these to keep pace in the
| march OF progress with the advanced civiliza-
ton about Them, they viii readily assimilate
| with the mass of our population, assuming the
responsibilities and receiving the protection in
cident TO this condition. The difficulty appears
to be in the selection OF the TO be at pres
ent employed toward the attainment of this re-
suit
Our Indian population exclusive of those in
Alaska, is reported rs numbering 260, 600, nearly
all being located on lands set apart for their use
and occupation, aggregatng over 13i 100000 OF
acres. These lands arc included in boundaries of
seventeen reservations of different dimensions,
scattered III twenty-One States and Territories,
presenting great variations in climate and in the
kind and quality of their soils. Among
Indians upon these several reservations
there exists the most marked differences
in natural traits and disposition, and
in their progress toward civilization.
ARE Industrious, peaceful and intelligent. While
u portion of them are self-supporting and in
dependent and have so far advanced in eiviliza-
ton that they make their own laws, administer
ed through officers of their own choice and
educate their children in schools of their own
establishment and maintenance, others still
remain in squalor and dependence almost
in the savagery of their natural state.
In dealing with this question the desires mani
Tested by the Indians should not be ignored
Here again we find great diversity. With
some the tribal relation is cherished with the ut
most tenacity while its hold upon others is con-
siderably relaxed The love of home is strong
with all, and yet there are those whose attach
ment TO particular locality is by no means un-
yielding. The ownership Of these lands in sew
crafty is much desired by some. while by others
and sometimes again the most civilized, such a
distribution would be bitterly opposed.
The variation OF their wants growing out of and
connected with the character OF their several 10.
cations should be regarded. Some are upon
reservations most fit for grazing, but without
flocks or herds, and some on arabic land have
no agricultural implements, while some of the
reservations are double the size necessary e
maintain the number OF Indians now upon them
In n few eases, perhaps. they should be en-
larged. Add TO all this the difference in the ad-
plinistration of the agencies, while the same
duties are dcvolved upon all, the disposition OF
the agents and the manner Of their contact with
the Indians have much TO do with their con-
dition and welfare.
The agent who perfunctionarily performs his
duty and slothfully neglects all opportunity e
advance their moral and physical improvement
and fails TO inspire them with desire for better
things, will accomplish nothing i'm the direction
of their civilization, while he who feels the bur.
den OF an important trust and has an interest in
his work will, by consistent examples, firm, yet
sonsiderate treatment and well-directed aid and
encouragement, constantly lead those under his
charge toward the light of their acknowledgement
The history of all the progress which has been
made in civilization of the Indian, think, will
disclose the fact that the beginning has been
religious teaching, followed byor accompanying
secular education, while the self-sacrifcng and
pious men and women who have aided in this
good work by their Independent endeavors have
for their reward the benefcent result of their
labor and consciousness of Christian duty well
performed. Their valuable services should be
fully acknowledged by all who, under the law,
are charged with tho control and management
of our Indian wards.
What has been said indicates that I'm the
present condition Of the Indians no attempt
should he mode TO apply n fixed and unyielding
law of action TO their varied and varying needs
and circumstances. The Indian Bureau, bur-
dened as it is with this general oversight, and
with the details OF the establishment, can
hardly possess itself of the minute particulars
of cases needing treatment, and thus the
propriety Of creating an fundamentally auxil-
iary TO those already established for the
care OF the Indians suggests itself.
! recommend tho passage Of law authorizing
| the appointment of six commiss ioners three OF
! whom shall be detailed from tho army, To be
| charged with the duty OF careful inspection
from time to time of all the Indians upon our
reservations or subject 10 the and control
| of the Government, with view OF discovering
| their exact condition and needs, and dcteTmin-