University of Virginia Library

1988. DEATH PENALTY, Indians and.—

It will be worthy the consideration of the
Legislature, whether the provisions of the
law inflicting on Indians, in certain cases, the
punishment of death by hanging, might not
permit its commutation into death by military
execution, the form of the punishment in the
former way being peculiarly repugnant to
their ideas, and increasing the obstacles to the
surrender of the criminal.—
Special Message. Washington ed. viii, 22.
(Jan. 1802)