Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1897-11-26

gNYONS COUNTY RECORD.
,.~> By d. r. STREETER.
Williamsport, North Dakota.
Pioneer Journal Of the County.
The Record Is entered at the Hilliamspo1a
P0sf01zce as second-class matter.


have no power to do mnch. The letter was
written By Acting Indisn Commissioners
Smith to the secretary of the interior.
A copy Of 1t was furnished to Senator
Harsbrough and to Senator Roach. whs
presented to the secretary the request
made By the board Of county commits
sioners Of Emmsns county that no
lndians be allowed to come On this side
of the river. But, with the present state
of feeling, 1t is certain that NO Indians
from the reservation ought to cross the
river from the other side. unless they ora
Indian police or other persons with proper
permits from the agent. A. II appears
that there 10 no legal authority to prevent
any Indian from crossing, 1t will not be
strange II the settlers insist that their
families shall not be frightened or their
lives endangered by promiscuous cross.
ing BY Indians. There are good many
more able-bodisd men in the counties Of
the Missouri Slope than there are on the
reservation. And serious trouble is
certain to occur If the Indians are allowed
to cross ct will into the counties Of North
and South Dakota opposite the reserva.
tion.
The authorities on the other side claim
that there Is no danger it whisky 10 kept
away from the Indians, and every settler
ought to insist that any one selling or
giving liquor to the Indians hereafter
shall no properly punished. Following 10
the letter:
Department Of the Interior, Office Of
Indian Affairs. Wsshinato DC, July 10.
1sH.-The Honorable, The Secretary Of
the Interior: SIR
II am In receipt, by your reference for
report, Of communications dated July 2
from Senators Hansbrough and Roach,
inclosing copies Of resolution adopted by
the board Of county commissioners,
Emmons county. North Dakots. decl.r.
ing that the Indians Of the Standing
Rock reservation have destroyed life and
property in that county. and asking that
the department issue, an order to the u.
8. Indian agent. Standing Rock agency.
to enec,ua land perpetuslly keep all
and any lsailAsshel helopRipE to said reser-
vation from coming within TIE limits Of
Emmons county. and that the said agent
be forbidden from issuing any permit to
any Indian or half.breed to come within
the limits Of Emmons county
II have the honor to report that. how.
ever desirable 1t may be that these as we'll
as other Indians be confined to the reser-
vation set aside for them, and however
willing this Office may be to issue the
necessary orders to that end. experience
has fully shown the futility of a.
tempting to conflne Indians to q
reservation. The Indians doubles,
claim the legal right as persons unde,
she constitution to travel the public roadl
and highwsys, enter stores and public
places and transact such business % Il
not prohibited by Law. And. further. i,
tits expressly held. in Unl.sd States ".
Crook. that in time Of peace no author.
| ity. civil or military, exists for transport
| log Indians from one section Of tn.
couns-v TO another. without the consent
OF M lndisas. nor to confine them tt
any particular s&sers s.ion against ihell
will; and whore ofacers Of the govern
ment attempt to do this, and arrest spl
hold Indians who ore vt peace with ID,
government, for the purpose Of renew
ing them to and combining them upon ,
reservation 10 the Indian territory, the,
will be released on babeas corpus Is Dill
Ion. 1881. 1t is . reasonable presump
tion. l should say. that the great major
ity Of these Indians leave their rsserva
tion on Legitimate business errands. tha
their dealings with their white neighbsrl
, are at least Of some benefit to the latter
and that the number Of Indians who i'm
properly conduct themselves and violat,
the law 10 90 small as to render thei
punishment an easy matter. It would b
wrong and work hardship to boil
Indians and whites II the ninety y-nine we'll
behaved Indians should bs denied tn,
/ privilege. even II the power existed, {,
leave their reservation on legitimate busi
ness because tho ono Indian goes wrong
l Destroying life and property ei.bs
within or without the reservation II,
crimes punishable, by law. and. ,whsr
committed beyond the limits Of tn.
reserve. the jurisdiction Of the state &c
try apd punish the criminal 10 unques
toned. That this jurisdiction bss been
exercised BY the state Of North Dakota Il
shown BY letter Of May II, 1897. from
the o.. B. Indian agent, Standing Rook
agency. in which he stated that I've
.Indians- -Holytrack. Ireland, Defender,
Pierre and dotte-beloneing upon the
Standing Rock reservation. were in jan
awaiting trial in the Emmons county
court. June lst for murder committed
In that county. This letter also showed
that the agent had assisted the county
authorities In affecting the arrest Of the
accused. :,
It is advised. therefore. that 1t IL i'm.
practicable. II not impossible. 10 keep
the indians Of the Standing Rock reserva-
tion within the limits Of their reserve q
on times. - requested, and thAt. Il they
leave their reservation and commit any
unlawful cot within ths Ani.s Of ~
/. /.