OCR Text |
Show . . . the national ~otrirnui&net,v en for his very wbsistence. He came to ' t h e agent for advice as t o matters arising. between him md his whie, neighbors, and ister.onas f~ matters arising between him and others of -his.tribe; He w& a child, without righta, except such as his agefit, - - allowed him toenjoy. . . By act of March 3, lW(9 Stata., 395), <'to eat.ahlish:thehome dB-partment," ete., .the Department of the Interior was organized and ' . ,authorized to 'cexercise the supervisory 5nd appellate powers nm ex- . ' , excised by the Secretaq of tpe War Dvarthent, in *lation to all the a t s of the Commissioner of Inilim ~ffair8,"'etc. . Theuceforw&rd the. ' .~ -" - Secretary of the 1nte;or became the head' of the Indiandephrtment. The-mt of 1834 gave no authority to agents or 'oEcers of United States, co,&~to take cognizance of offenses committed by 1udians .on, , .theu respective reservations. Theact,of March27,1854 (10 Stab., 270), , . howe~er~providefodr the punislunent of Indians for the crimes of sraon : and aksault with intent to kill wheu s?id crimes were committed against' the preperty or persons of whites residing upon Indian reserv.ations. mile gradnaUy'aasumiug the guardianship of the persons of the kdians, th8 @ov&mment also acquired, through treaties audlaws, the. full'oontrol and gnmdianship of their property, and became tlie holder of large Bums of money representing the funds bf the various tribes,, and theseiunds, as well as annuities provided for by treaties, havemn. ', expeodedunder the direction of Congress for2such objects as will'best proniote the cdmfort, civilization, and improvement of the- tribe entitled.' to the sake." See section 2 of the act of July 15,1870 (16 Stats., 360;). By the Iudmu ippropriation act of May 27,-1878 (20 St!&., 86), au- 1 , _;.. ... . tiority was. g r d d for the appointment of Indian poliice, to be "em-. ;played in maintaiuing pewe and prohibiting illegd traffic in liquor on the rese&atious." These polbe are appointed from rimong the Indians -- bythe Commissioner of Indian Affairs upon the rewmmendatiou of the - Indian agent, q ~thde y are subject to the orders of the agent. ' Jails or ' gnrsrdhouseshave been'provided on many reservations in which to cbn-b e refraddiy Indians. The Indian &gent was the sole judge of th6 guilt of Indiana charged with offenses onreservations, and the 'Indian polioe. fdrce executed his judgments without question until April 10, ; : 1.883, when this Department promulgated a regulatiou providing for - the eatahIislunent of wurta on the various 'Indian ~csewationsw, ith .jnriction to try. and pass judgment on Indians guilty of certain pre. ; s&bedoffenses, tarmedc'Indian offenses." The judges of these wurts ,. were termed "jndges of the court of Indian offenses,)' and, like the . ,Indian police, were appointed by the Commissioner of Ipdian Affairs .' fromamongthe Indians upon the recommendations of the agents. While . the @dimpolice force and wurt of Indian offenses, wmvosed, as they are, of members of Indian tribes, ought to be, and od many resews: ' ti:ons are. organizations through which the Indians, in modified way, 1I ~ . . ' &ern: themdyes after the manner of the people of civilized. tl&iong , , , . ~ : ,.. . -I~ - . 1 , , . .:!- ~ :<?. . , - : I : ' .- ... I . . :': : . , .~ |