The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-07

! appendix AZ In relation to this charge. however
vague in its terms. the committee had before them
s1ous reports OF the office of Indian Affairs upon divers
Ease, and subjects referred by the witnesses; and in
M instance there any fact elected IN the examination
At all calculated TO sustain any charge OF naccuracy in
,be statements contained in said reports and where the
witnesses stated their dsapproval OF the or the
conclusions OF any OF said reports, was found to be
mere difference OF opinion between the Commissioner
and themselves. and this disagreement OF judgment
ed TO the committee in every instance, to be produced by
interest the side OF the witnesses See the testimony
o S,arret Bib, Taylor, Rogers and Green The com
miee need only say, that from the examination Of the
facts &c. involved IN these reports, and the testimony,
the reports Of Colonel Medi are entitled to the very
highest degree of confidence and reliance, as well from
the ceaess OF their details from their historical and
| Second THAT the Indian bureau was corrupt" Not
an ea of testimony, from those witnesses who, il
appeared in the course OF the investigation had given
currency to doubts and suspicious against the Indian
otce and from whom doubtless, the honorable gentle
man whose remarks gave rise to this inquiry must have
obtained the information upon which he made these
charges could be obtained to sustain this charge; and
the committee constrained TO say that there
total failure of proof in regard to any allegation of cor
uphon, either against the oice OF Indian Affairs the
Commissioner, Colonel Med
Third. THAT the head OF it (MedilD dishonest !"
This severe charge against gentleman filling of the
most important Offices OF the government completely
dispoved before the committee even upon the testimony
of the most "wiDg Witnesses against Commissioner
Medi- Not a fact or the shadow Of TRUTH impugnng
the personal integrity OF the accused uttered BY any
witness before the committee but all united ascbng
to the Commissioner the highest order of personal and
official Mobty and his integrity has passed the ordeal of
searching Investigation, not only unassaled by proof,
but the most bitter of his have borne the
testimony in his favor
FourM That "such was the dstrust of those interest
ed 10 the transactions of that he Indian) bureau, that
1.-THE Hon. Mr. Cingman) have been applied to more than
once resolution directing that the books of the
Cherokee commission should be removed to place of
greater security for that il had been said that the records
of the commission had been altered and, in some in
stances, by the officers of the Indian bureau" (See APP
pendx A. 1t was proper, in considering this charge.
that the committee should examine it in connexion with
the qualification with which il was made in the follow
ing words: This, however said was reputed to have
occurred during the time of Mr.. Medill's predecessor"
at will be seen, therefore, that preferred specific
charge against the bureau as at present organized but
merely expressed an opinion generally founded on the
statements OF OtherS.'
Taking the whole charge and the qualification quoted.
together the committee under the necessity of
larging the field of investigation beyond reference
the present Commissioner and in noticing this charge
thus generally brought to their notice. it is due TO the
honorable Mr.. Clngnan to state that the committee
ceraned from some two OF the witnesses that they had
made the representations to the honorable gentleman
which his remarks referred AS act of justice the
honorable MIR. Clingman, who thus wantonly i'm
posed upon the committee made searching Hquiry into
all the facts involved, and found that there not
scna OF truth fact to sustain the charges these wit
nesses had thus basey put in circulation The Office of
Indian Affairs is fully exoncrateh in the testimony from
all and every charge made against by these Witnesses
in relation to alteration Of records &C.. and said records
which were all before the committee, contradict every
allegation this subject Not the slightest alteration
appeared upon these records with which the Indian Office
had any connection whatever; and, in one instance,
where slight change OF words in an unmportan entry
exhibited to the committee, the of a word
two [see the testimony of General Eaton and Mr. Mix
was satisfactorily accounted for having been done
without any improper design by one Of the witnesses
upon this point together, as well in reference to
Commissioner Medis predecessor in Office, to that
gentleman hmself, the charge wholly falls to the
ground without word of evidence to sustain it and
the origin Of this severe accusation is traced down. UNI
msakaby and certainly, to the cutting of few useless
and redundant leaves from private memorandum book
being his QUO" private property kep.n his own posses
son and brought BY him to the committee, and which,
the committee fully satisfied, for single
moment, for any purpose, in the Office of Indian Affairs.
Nsr will it be believed by any one who will read the tes
imony upon this point, that Commissioner Medill, or
any OF his predecessors, any person in any way
neced with the office OF Indian Afairs commissioner,
clerk or in any other capacity had any knowledge
OF said book, or had even ever it until 1t
brought by its owner to the room in which this COM
mltee held its sngs! insidous
faslous accusation never before, perhaps, pre-
ferred against any and in the history OF congress
sonal Investigations, are sure more thorough and
complete exposure and refutatIon OF a specific charge
has been exhibited than will be found in the tes
mony OF the several witnesses in reference to this charge
OF mulaton OF records.
:. The attention of the committee was invited by the
claimants, which he submitted the last session of Con-
gress and the committee have given said document full
examination. The principal object OF this memorial APP
pears to have been to show Congress the proYrsy of
providing Tor the appointment OF another and fifth
board OF Cherokee commissioners; but it is made up of
divers charges and allegations OF interference the
part OF the War Department. with the decisions OF the
tour several expired boards to the detrimeRt of the
rights OF claimants. &C. Against the present Com
missioner the said memorial makes two charges: FIRST.
That before the last commissioners commenced their
IA
uon OF the good faith of the United States, and in
breach OF the good faith of solemn treaties" These in
suctlons are referred to contained in letter from
sad Commissioner OF Indian Affairs dated August 81.
1916, lsee appendx) Second. That the Commissioner
OF Indian Affairs Colonel MedilD refused to suffer the
records OF the decisions of the commissioners to be in
spected by counsel, &c; and that "by Withholding the
records 1t was intended (by said Commissioner MedilD
mat the general presumption of fairness in the conduct
OF the business, and OF the correctness of the decisions of
tde board of commissioners, should be INDUCED" (See
heuse document No g. Both Congress, LIST session. page
oi) The letter OF August 81 1915, from Commissioner
Medl to Messrs Brewster and Hardin, has been care
FULLY examined by the committee, aad without 'nqulring
as 10 the question OF the power duty of the depart
men to instruct said board of Cherokee commissioners
IN relation to their course, the committee find nothing in
ths letter which processes to be in any way obliga-
Tory on the action of the Cherokee board. 1t very
properly refers TO them the views of the depart
iHo9fmanon, merely, however, because Commissioner
Medl expressly declines in it to give any opinion
as 10 the correctness OF these views of his predeces
sor referred to, for the that the Attorney Cen
commissioners might disagree By inviting the board to
Tree intercourse with the Office of Indian Affairs for
he purpose OF arriving such facts from its files and
oords as would promote the ends of justice, Commits
noher Medill was no more than courteous to the new
ooad and no one seeking justice should condemn him
IN If