"[Africans] are not the possessors of an old civilization and ancient laws, under which they have learned to manage their own affairs; they are in no degree in the position of the Hindoo and Mahomedan races in India. They are mere barbarians, with some ill-defined customs which we have reduced to law.… African tribes seem to be mere casual aggregations of people under the chief of the day. … I should judge, then, that there is little of native law or rule which we are much called on to respect when these people come under our jurisdiction."