Speech #520109693

I said. and I repeat. the Senator did notanswer that part of it. that in the Indian courts where they had full jurisdiction to try criminal causes. where both parties wore Indians. that in a long series of years. while many inurC rs had been committed bymen of prominence and standing in that Territory. the Senator well knows it when I say that no man of prominence. of extensive connection. or wealth has ever been convicted in a single instance in a trial before those Indian courts of a serious offense. There are families there that are so extensive that they are closely and intimately connected with each other. and they are of such overpowering influence in the Territory that any member of the family could murder the Senator in passing through there and it would be utterly impossible to get a jury to convict him. If he can get the pending joint resolution passed. if it is effective. which I hope it will be. if the Territory can be opened to every class of immigrants. then it is entirely proper and correct that the people should be tried by juries who reside inside of the Territory. There is one other thing. The Senator seeks to make the impression that this large cost is attributable to the fact that these courts are held on the line of the Territory instead of inside of the nation.