The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1837-05-19

TESTIMONY OF HON. HUGH L. WHITE.
communication in writing, in answer to the
interfogaiory pu, TO the Hon. Hugh l.. White was
received through the chairman and read to the
committee as follows:
The oath administered 10 me was "to tell III,
truth, he ,ohole truth and nothing but tie truth ?"
&c Aiter being thus sworn, The intsrrogatory
put 10 me is IN the words following:
Question. "Do you of your own knowledge,
know Of any act by either of the heads of the tx.
ecuiive Departments which is either corrupt, or a
violation of their official duties 2''
From the manner IN which the question is wor.
ded, II is somewhat difficult for me to determine
to what extent ! ought 10 proceed in nay answer.
presume il could not be the meaning of the
committee 10 constitute me Judge ofwhat shall be
considered corrugtlon violation of official do.
y, by any Of the heads Of tie Executive Depart.
ments II So | might believe facts within nv
knowledge did cot amount TO either corruption or
a violation Of official duty and on that account O.
init any statement whatever; or, on the other hand
state facts which believe prove one or the other
when the whole committee nigh dsagree with me
IN opinion. and consider disclosures entirely use.
less as not tending to prove any improperly what,
ever In this situation, presume shall best dis
charge my duty by telling VIVA, may know fall
ling within the range OF either of the Executive
Departments and such circumstances as may tend
to show the mt i've with which the act was done
or omitted, leaving il to the committee TO deter.
mine whether any statements may make will be
Of use or not in their Investigation.
Ofmy knowledge 90 not know or any frauds
actually practised either TO the sale of the
public lands, or 10 the purchase of Indian reserva-
tons; ret, from information | have received, in
which conhde, 90 bc!ieyegreat frauds have been
! PFaetised, and are yet going on, as 10 both and
that IN some Of these. our own officers or agents
have been, and nos are, concerned or interested;
auc that ii the committee will call upon persons
who were and ye, in the vicinity of the places
where those transactions have taken place, TO dis
close what they know, these frauds, and those
concerned IN them, cen be ascertained. Whether
the heads Of either of the departments are liable
10 be censured for any Of these acts, the commit
tee viii Of course decide for Themselves, when
they snail have ascertsined all the facts.
In the year 1880, the system row going on for
removing the Indians, with their consent, out OF
the limits of the States and Territories end set.
Ting them west Of the Mississippi, was sanctioned
by Congress 1T has been progressing as rapidly
as possible ever since The duties relating 10 this
branch Of business peftelned to lie war Depart
ment.
Al the session OF Congress for tie years 1881
and S32, and near the time when short session
would have terminated. the secretary Of war came
to me, as chairman Of the committee ON Indian
Affairs and stated that duties were becoming so
cnerous that be could not discharge them with
out an alteration IN the Indian Department; that
the gentleman Hho then at the head OF the
ladiun Barean, and 81 DO then receiving 4 sala-
~ o, fourteen sixteen hundred dollars, Though
very amiabc man. was entirely incapable OF
dlsehargHg his duties 10 such manner as TO
give that aid which the public iateres, required
III: he had drafted a bll To create the Office Of
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs, with a salary Of I
three thousand dollars per annum, which he y,ish-
ed me TO introduce, and endeayor to have passed (
into law. | informed him that the session had
then 50 far advanced and The opposition to he In
dian system was 50 strong, taat doubted il would
Ne out Of my power, beside, that some of the ap.
pointnents which had been made. were, in my O.
plnion, inlndcious; and ihatift office we're ere
ated, and allied by person so incompetent as 10
represented The person then at the head OF the In.
dlan Bureau 10 He, the public business would be
no btiicr done, and there would be necessarily a
considerable increase Of expense. and that was
unwilling to sioye on the subject, unless could
DC assured, Il the oihce was created, Il SHALL be
rel tLtd. Thus he assured me should be done,
thyn requested ann tO speak with tic Chairman
of the Committee OF Indian Afairs of the House,
and II his cooperation could he procured, would
on my part, do all IN my power to give effect 10
has wishes.
The bill was introduced. and owing 10 the
strong representation made of the necessity for lis
passage, the opposition ia the Senate Mas with.
Drawn, aud the law was passed. Congress ad.
Jonrned. add no appointment Of Commissioner was
made until the next session and then the same
gentleman whose supposed Incompetence al the
head Of the Indian Bureau, with 3 small salary, .
had given rise to tins law, was nominated to fill
the Office of Commissioned, TO which was attached
the salary OF $4,000 psr annur The noninl-
ton was referred 10 thu Committee on Indian Al.
fairs, and they reported, recommending that the
nomination should he confirmed A, that session
| happened To DO IN the char and when heard
the report, withdrew from the chair. and smoke to
the gentleman who made the report; told him
what passed between the Secretary and myself,
and that Eel, it due to the Senate and TO the
country that the facts should be disclosed 50 that
the nomination might be acted on with full un-
Outstanding OF the facts. Tie told me he would
have the nomination laid on the table, until he
could see The Secretary, and have his explanation
on the subject. lie did so, and afterwards inform
ed me he had seen aud converssd with the Sscre.
tary, and communicated to him my statement;
and that the Secretary admitted my statement to
be true, as 10 what passed between us, but that
after the passage OF the law Mr. Herring had de-
voted hinselfto acquiring knowledge Of the du.
ties pertaining TO The O.hoe, and was then well
qualified to discharge them Under this state
ment | said nothing further, and the nomination
was confirmed and il did 50 happen that, although
| never heard Mr.. Herrngs integrity called IN
question, vet his want Of capacity was Admitted
by I'll with whom converscd before he quit the
office.
During the last session ho was appointed pay.
master, aud Mr.. c. A. Harris appointed Commits.