The record-union., 1891-08-27
LAWYERS IN COUNCIL.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMER
CAN BAR ASSOCIATION.
Interesting Addresses Delivered by
Leading Members of the
Profession.
Special TO the RECoRD-UN1oN

fcpeClll 10 Ln6 1tECORD-UNION.
BosToN, Aug. 26.-The fourteenth an
nual meeting of the American Bar Asso-
citation opened this forenoon. Nearly
two hundred members were present.
After President Baldwin had called the
assembl2ge to order a welcome was ex-
tended to the visitors by Hon. John
Lowell, President of the Boston Bar AS
sociation. President Baldwin responded,
stating that the association was pleased
with the warmth of the reception accorded
it. After these few brief remarks he pro-
ceeded to deliver the annual address.
The President spoke of the great di-
versity 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 relieve
the supreme Court, he reviewed at some
length the details of the Judiciary Act.
He paid tribute to President Harrison
In regard to the fairness and excellence
Of his appointments TO fill the new Cir
cult Court Judgeships. He mentioned
especially the international copyright
law. The speaker said that within the
last year the number Of States which had
adopted the Australian ballot system had
increased to twenty-nine. The laws re-
lating TO other important matters were
gone over, and the President, speaking
OF the uniformity of legislation, said tive
more States had appointed commissions
to promote it. In closing, the speaker
referred to the American Constitution
which he said is the best of the fruits OF
1000 years Of Anglo-Saxon history.
At the close of the Presidents address
100 new members were admitted. A re-
cess was then taken.
At the afternoon session interesting ad-
dresses were delivered by Frederick NJ.
Judson of st. Louis on the individual
Liberty of a Contract Under Police
Power" and by William B. Hornblower
Of New York on the Legal Status of the
Indians" Mr.. Hornblower, after speak
ing Of the compleXity of Jurisprudence
OF the United States, referred to the re-
cent decision of the United States Court
in South Dakota that the killing of q
United States Army officer by an Indian
was not murder, because q state of war
exists between the United States and the
tribe to which the Indian belonged.
This" he said, "has directed public at
tentlon TO the legal status Of the Indian -
After reviewing the various dealings
with the Indians since the formation
the United States Government, e
speaker proceeded to review the cases in
which the status OF the Indian had been
l..
right Of Congress to regulate the legal
status of the Indian having been fully
ana clearly enunciated by the court Of
last resort, the question is pertinent
whether the time has not arrived for Con-
greSS to take such steps as will put an
end at once and forever to any such
rights OF independence or quaSi-inde-
pendence as viii justify any tribe or so
called nation" of Indians in levying war
against the United States
Already Congress has taken steps in
the direction OF denationalizing Indians.
Having advanced thus, it would seem
eninently proper that Congress should
pass an Act subjecting all Indians within
the jurisdiction OF any State or Terri
tory TO the criminal laws of those States
and territories, and all Indians within
any Indian reservation TO the criminal
laws OF the United States, and declaring
that they shall not hereafter be recog-
nized lS political communities capable of
making war. However great the wrongs
OF the Indian, ana however real his griev-
ances, it is perfectly clear that they cannot
be righted by casual inSurrectlon. 1t is
clearly time that the Government should
assert its power aud enforce the law
against these wards of the nation. Ger
tainly for the Indian to be told that he
may rise against the United States Gov
ernment and kill officers and soldiers.
and to be exempt from all punishment
either for treason or murder, because he
is member of IN Independent or quasi
independent nation waging war against
the United States, is to encourage and not
To deter hIm from future hostilities. That
which WAS once a fact has become fiction
The Indian nations have become
wretched remnants hanging on the out
skirts ofcivilization, or living on reserva-
tions and surrounded by civilized COM
munities, and dependent in whole or in
part for support on the Government. Let
The fiction be abolished. Let us enact
laws suitable for the present situation
and place the legal status of the Indian
upon a rational and practical basis"