Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-18

OF the Committee believe that most o;
the volumes, thus deposited in the Indian bureau
have been purchased with view TO assist the re
Sponsibie officer at the head oft, in the discharge
OF the various and multiplied duties of his office
One OF the most exp n>iv, Of no works, Itself cost.
ing between a third aud fourth of the whole sum
expended, certainly small one, is Niles Regis
ter, work OF III ispensible necessity in af,ost G.
very public ohcc OF the Government, anu one of
frequent use for reference in the Indian Office
Not unlike, in general utility, is the work oil Dr.
Seybert, believed TO be the only work on statis-
tics, which the little collection contains and i'm
which very importan, inio nation touching the re
Sons occupied by >one. oil the tribes OF inuanS i
contained. Some oi the historical and biographi-
cal works have connexion with Indians and indi-
an aifiirs. Those said TO be Oh theology" are
supposed 10 be periodical journals. published by
the different religious and charitable associations
who have the direction OF the missionary schools
among the indians, and the expenditure of por-
ton OF the fund for their civilization and il is well
known, that in these volumes i embraced Il great
amount OF information oil all kinds, relative TO the
condition and character of the Indians tribes
these works seem generally, TO the minority
oil the Committee, oil class likely to be useful in
the Office OF Indian Affairs and to the Head OF the
department, in preparing their reports and dis
charging other official duties connected with In-
dian affairs. They have OF course been collected,
from time to time, as occa ion required or oppor-
tunity offered They have properly, therefore,
IN like manner as much larger expenditures of the
same kind are made by the House OF Representa-
nves ont OF Its contingent fund. few OF the ve-
inncs might. perhaps, have been dispensed with,
unless they may be brought by liberal ,.iscre-
ton, within the limits OF furniture the Office In
general the minority OF the committee instead of
consuming this item OF expenditure, are apprehen-
s!ve, from Its snIalIness that mary works OF prac-
cal utility, in the Office nust still be wanting; and
,.hey would see with pleasure that care taken.
oy the head OF thr department, gradually to col
iect within the Iniian Office, all such works. prn-
ted and manuscript, required for the intel
iigent and efficient discharge OF its duties Ii &C.
caionai!y happens, in the history OF people, that
the most important national questions are seii-
ousiy affected by the authori Of few books or a
map. By such authorities, at the present time, d
controversy respecting tract Of land about as
large as the State OF Massachusetts,, is to be dec-
deu on the northeast ern frontier Of the Union The
minority OF the committee will have occasion,
presently, to aiiude to expenditure for singi
manuscript book, contracted Tor by Mir Jefferson,
TO an amount three iiiths larger than the whole
sum now under consideration, with reference TO
Tie south western boundary of the Indian Terrific
ry OF the Uuted States And the minority OF the
committee are fearful, even now, that if either
Honse oil congress were TO call upon the Depart
ment, Tor statement OF the boundaries, numbers
history, and present condition of the several Indi
an tribes, within our territorial limits "a statement
cioSely connected with matters in legislation the
present momcnt,) that the Department would find
itself IN want of some of the printed and manuscript
works, neediul to furnish the answer 10 such a
call
The settlement ana payment of the accounts o?
Dr. John Sibley, formerly employed by Mr.. Jef-
ierson as an Indian agent, and on general conf
aeniiai service, have been the subject of animal
version 1t appears from letter of Mr.. Jefferson
winch the minority OF the Committee here with
submit, that great importance was attached to his
services, and that he acquitted himself highly TO
the satisfaction OF the Executive in the discharge
OF his duties. DIR. Sibley continued in the service
oil the Government till 1914 his accounts were re-
gulsriy rendered his drafts were always accom-
panied by letters OF advice; and be never over
drew. On the termination of his agency, in 1914,
lie claimed balance cue 10 him, in 1916
ana repeatedly Tor several years, application was
made TO the Department by the honorable J osiah
o. 'ohns'on as attorney OF DIR. Sibley for the set
ueinent OF his accounts, the allowance of which
had been delayed, according the official state
ment from the second Auditors office, on account
oil some slight intormality." These repeated
applications OF Mr. Johnston, for the settlement of
Dr. oioley'| accounts, proved Intellectual in con-
'equenc" OF the vast accumulation of business i'm
the oihce, growing out of war. During this in
terval, viz. from July, 1913, to February 1921.
Dr. 9lbley was again employed in the public SER
wee as Surgeon 10 tle troops stationed at Natchi-
icches and, on forwarding his account for services
as such, TO the amount OF $500 80, payment of it
was withheld, in the consequence ofthe appearance
81 balance against him on his old account as In
dian Agent. This led 10 an investigation of that
account, which was adjusted and allowed as far as
vouchers could be found but for want Of vouch-
srs, (Which had been duly forwarded at the time,
o the Department, and lost,) several items were
iisalIowed. and a. balance found against DIR. Sib-
ey, OF 1881 o. Against this settlement Dr.
sibley, by his letter of May 2S 1921 protested and
alleged that the United State, would be found, on
ne ust,settiement oil his accounts, which he had
or some year, solicited by his attorney considera-
by indebted to him. In support OF this allegation
Dr. Sibiey again collected or caused to be collect
I'd, such documents and vouchers could be pro-
cured by him. after SO long lapse of time to sub
tantiate his claims. The last Of these was a
etter from Mr.. Jefferson, which the minority
u the Committee submit as a satisfactory
ttestation 10 DR.. Sibley's character, and the va
ue oil his services in the estimation of the Admin
stration that employed him. The minority ofthc
have examined all the other vouchers
ma documents III support OF these claims. They
lcem them iull and sufficient, and more ample
ban could have been expected after such A Ispse
u time. They forbear from making them part
u ohis report, solely from desire TO kept with
u inoutratv limits; ant From pcsuason, that up
IN the whole, the House will be of opinion, that
one oil the parties TO dis iran ,ac ion are capable
u having participated IN corrupt and fraudulent
etiiement. They will ask permission to call the
Iitentioh Of the House to the importance attached
" MT Jefferson, TO the procuring oil a manuscript
WORK OF French missionary .monp the Indians
u louisiana, the trsnscrbng OF which forms
onsit erable item in the accounts i'm question
ne copies OF this work were prepared by express
direction Of President Jefferson; it is folio volume
u 500 or 400 page; two persons were employ
"a Two or three months in transcrbing il, during
Which time, they were boarded md lodged i'm DR.
sibieys house, and furnished with stationery
The minority OF the Committee deem this rea-
enable Charge. As half of the sums claimed By
Dr.. Sibley were for the expenses Of an Indian de-
'utauon and that, and all the res, connected with
hui sIo 81.