The Indian Before the Law (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1884 Excerpt: ... APPENDIX. The following circular was sent by the sub-Committee on Law of the Indian Rights Association to all the U. S. Indian Agents, to Indian Missipnaries, Army Officers, and other persons informed upon Indian matters. The Indian Rights Association. Office Of Committee On Law, 416 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 1883. Dear Sir: --The Committee on Law of the Indian Rights Association, of Philadelphia, has been instructed to prepare a bill " for the protection of the Indians by civil law." Before entering on a work of such difficulty and magnitude, the Committee is desirous of ascertaining as far as possible the condition of affairs on the various Indian reservations, feeling that without a wide and definite practical knowledge it is impossible to proceed with any chance of success. The Committee is also very anxious to avail itself of the opinions of intelligent men who have a personal acquaintance with the subject. It therefore ventures to submit to you the outline of a plan which it now has under consideration, and request your views upon it. The Committee also asks the favor of an answer to questions on points which it considers of importance. The plan suggested is as follows: To divide the reservations into judicial districts, the size of each district to be determined by the number of inhabitants and the extent of territory. Whenever the size of a reservaHon renders it practicable, it shall constitute one judicial district. There shall be one judge for each judicial district. (It is probable that these judges would.have to be white men, although Indian Judges would be preferable if men of sufficient intelligence and integrity could be found.) Such district judge shall have cognizance of all cases, civil and criminal, arising between Indians (or persons i...