Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-27
Meeting Of the National Bar
Association.
The Legal Status Of the Indian
Discussed.
Sixfy,one Bodies Recovered From
the Park Place Ruins.
President Harrison Not Afraid of Being
KILLED Except by Cranks and Kind
ness--Conventions of Various
Political Bodies.
A.socistsd Press dispatches.

annual meeting of the American Bar
association opened this forenoon.
Nearly 200 members were present.
After President Baldwin had called the
assembly to order welcome was ex-
tended to the visitors by Hon. John
Lowell, president of the Boston Bar as
sociation. President Baldwin re-
sponded, stating that the association
was pleased with the warmth Of the re-
ception accorded it. After these few re-.
marks he proceeded to deliver his an
nual address.
The president spoke of great diver
atty of matters treated by the federal
and state governments. He then re-
viewed the acts of congress and OF the
legislatures of the different states.
In speaking OF the action. taken to re-
lieve the supreme court he reviewed at
some length the details of the judiciary
act. He paid glowing tribute
to President Harrison in regard
to the fairness and excellence
Of his appointments to fill the new cir
emit court judgeships. He mentioned
especially the international copyright
law.
The speaker said within the last year
the number OF states which had adopted
the Australian ballot system was in
creased to twentv-nine. The laws relat-
ing to other important matters were
gone over, and the president, speaking
i've more states had appointed commits
- Tn nIn 10
speaker referred to the American con-
stitution, which, he said was the best
fruits of thousand years OF Anglo
Saxon history.
At the close of the presidents ad
dress 16O new members were admitted,
and recess was then taken.
At the afternoon session interesting
addresses were delivered by Frederick
M. Judson, of St. LOUIS, on Individual
Liberty of Contract Under Police Power,
and by William B. Hornblower, of New
York, on the Legal Status of the In
dams.
Mr.. Hornblower, after speaking of the
complexity of the jurisprudence of the
United States, referred to the recent de-
cisions of the United States court in
South Dakota that the killing of
United States army officer by an Indian
was not murder, because state of war
existed between the United States and
the tribe to which the Indian belonged.
This, he said, had directed public atten-
tion to the legal status Of the Indian.
After reviewing various dealings with
II, the Indians since the formation OF the
United States, the speaker proceeded to
review cases in which the status of the
Indian had been determined by the
supreme court. 1.-THE right of congress
to regulate the legal status of the Indian
having been fully and clearly enunci-
ated by the court of last resort" said
he, "the question is pertinent whether
the time has not arrived for congress to
take such steps as will put an end at
once and forever to- any such rights Of
independence or quasi-independence as
will Justify any tribe, or so-called ma
ton of Indians, in levying war against
the United States. Already congress
has taken steps in the direction of de-
nationalizing the Indians. Having ap-
Vanced thus far. it would seem eminently
proper that furthersteps should be taken
that congress should pass an act sub.
jecting all Indians within the jurisdic
tion of any state or territory to the
criminal laws OF those states or terri
tories, and all the Indians within any
Indian reservation to the criminal laws
of the United States, and declaring thai
they shall not hereafter be recognized al
political communities capable OF making
war, or as in any respect independent
However great the wrongs of the Indian
and however real his grievance, it i
perfectly clear that they cannot b.
righted by casual insurrection. 1t j
clearly time that the government shoul'
assert its power and enforce the Law
against these wards of the nation. Ger
tainly for the Indian to be toll
he may rise against the United State
government and kill officers and so
diers, and to be exempt from a
punishment, either for treason or mul
der, because he is member OF an indt
pendent or quasi independent natio
waging war against the United States
is to encourage and not deter him fror
future hostilities. That which wasonc
TACT has become fiction. The India
nations have become wretched rem
nante, hanging on the outskirts OF civi
ization or living on reservations an
surrounded by civilized communities
and dependent in whole or in part *
support on the government. Let us el
act law suitable for the present situ'
tion, and place the legal status Of th
Indian upon a rational and practic
basie."
CRANKs AND KIND NESS.