Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-16

criminal law should be remedied and if the
plan above suggested is not practicable, some
other should be devised
THE INDIANS
The report of the secretary of the interior,
containing an account of the operations of
| this important department. and much inter-
estlng information will be submitted for your
consideration.
The most intricate and difficult subject in
charge OF this department is the treatment
and management of the Indians. am salts
he'd That some progress may be noted in their
| condition as result of prudent administra-
ton OF the present laws and regulations for
| their control
But it is submitted that there is lack of a
| fixed purpose or policy on this subject which
should be supplied 1t is useless to dilate
upon the wrongs of the Indians, and as use
less to indulge in the heartless belief that be-
| cause their wrongs are revenged 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, 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 the
ultimate object of their treatment should
be their civilization and citizenship. Fitted
by these to keep pace in the march OF pro
i gress 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,
| think, will disclose the fact that 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 endeavor have for their reward
the beneficent results of their labor and the
consciousness of Christian duty well per-
formed, their valuable services should be fully
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 the
present condition of the Indians, no attempt
should be made to apply fixed and unyleld-
ing plan of action to their varied and varying
needs and circumstances.
The Indian bureau, burdened as it is with
their general oversight and with the details
of the establishment, can hardly possess itself
of the minute phases of the particular cases
needing treatment; and thus the proprlety OF
creating an instrumentahty auxiliary to
those already established for the care of the
Indians suggests itself.
I recommend the passage OF law author
izing the appointment of six commissioners,
three of whom shall be detailed from the
army, to be charged with the duty of care
full inspection from time to time of all the
Indians upon our reservations or subject to
the care and control Of the government, with
| xrioy Of 6iconuarirer THAR ayapt condition
and needs, and determining what 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 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 commissioners 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.
They should be also charged with the duty
of ascertaning the Indians who might prop
erly be furnished with implements OF agricul-
ture, and of what kind; in what cases the
support of the government should be with
drawn; where the present plan of distributing
Indian supplies should be changed; where
schools may be established and where discOn-
tinued; the conduct methods, and fitness of
agents in charge of reservations; the extent
to which such reservations are occupied or
intruded upon by unauthorized persons; and
generally all matters related to the welfare
and improvement Of the Indians.
They should advise with the secretary OF
the interior concerning these matters OF de-
tail in management, and he should be given
power to deal with them fully, if he is not
now invested with such power. This plan
contemplates the selection of persons for COM
missions who are interested in the Indian
question, and who have practical ideas upon
the subject of their treatment.
The expense of the Indian Bureau during
the last fiscal year was more than ST, 50o,0J0
I believe much of this expenditure might be
saved under the plan proposed; that is eco
nomical effects would be increased with its
continuance: that the safety of our frontier
settlers would be subserved under its opera
ton, and that the nation would be saved
through its results from the imputation of in
humanity, injustice, and mismanagement.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The public domain had its origin in cessions
of land by the States to the general govern
ment. The first cession was made by the
State of New York, and the largest, which in
area exceeded all the others, by the State of
| Virginia. The territory, the proprietorship
of which became thus vested in the general
government extended from the western line
of Pennsylvania to the Mississippi river. These
patriotic donations of the States were
encountered with no condition, ex,
cept that they should be held aud
used 'tfor the common benefit of the United
Statesn By purchase, with the common fund
of all the people, additions were made to this
domain until it extended to the northern line
of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean and the Polar
Sea- The original trust, ''for the common
benefit of the United States" attached to all.
In the execution of that trust the policy Of
many homes, rather than large estates, was
adopted by the government. That these
might be easily obtained, and be the
abode of security and contentment, the laws
for their acquisition were few, easily
understood, and general in their character.
But the pressure of local interests, combined
with a speculative spirit, have in many in
stances procured the passage of laws which
malred the harmony of the general plan, and
| encumbered the system with a multitude of