Nowhere in our fundamental laws or plan of organization does the idea once enter that military power shall be used as a primary means of administering justice and equity any more than it does that it should arrogate to itself legislative power. It follows. then. that it is contrary to the very spirit of our institutions to make use of the military arm as a primary means of civilizing the Indians and leading them up to the standard of citizenship. There is no more reason to assume that such an idea is embraced in theorganization and fundamental laws of our Government than that emigrants who coe to this country should be placed nunder its care until they have attained te rights of citizenship. The difficulties to be encountered in the one case may call for more frequent use of military power than the other. but this does not change the principle or justify or excuse If adoption of a different policy. the this be trueand I see not how it can be stecessfnlly refittedthen. sir. seeking to transfer a portion of the civil administration of the Government to the Military Department is contrary to the spirit of our institutions and the fundamental principles upon which our Republic is based. It may be said that no one expects or desires by this transfer to check the efforts to civilize the Indians. that because the aid of military power is so often necessary. we may as well place the whole matter in the hands of that Department.
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emigrants