The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-21
THE R EPU BLIC.
WASHINGTON
SATURDAY MORNING. JULY 81. ls4s.


THE UNION AND THE INDIAN AGENCIEs
The Union says we have given up the
defence of the Secretary of the Interior.
The Union knows that we have not yet
undertaken it. In making known the
proceedings of the President in matter
of public concern, we stated facts which
incidentally showed the groundlessness
and malignity of insinuations and charges
which that paper had denounced against
the Secretary. The defence Of the Secre-
tary was no part Of our object in making
the development we did; and this we stated
at the time. We are yet to see the first
statement, except the unsupported, bald,
and defamatory accusations of the Union,
which imputes any corruption to any men,
Der Of the present Cabinet. We have
spoken of these scandalous and disgraceful
charges as they deserved; but we have at
tempted no defence farther than an expla-
nation Of public measures may be so con-
sidered. The Union has not acquired
reputation for truth or knowledge which
enables it to assal the fair fame of any
one. Its denunciations are the exhala-
tons of the slough into which the stale
libels, exploded SANDERS, stereotyped sour
rility, WORKOUT falsehoods, and the scurvy
billingsgate of half a century, have been
boarded, to steam, and sweat, and stew,
and ferment. 1t is dipped into this dis
gusting reservoir o'nights, and in the morn
ing it comes out surcharged and dripping
with its contents.
The Union thinks it has no right to ask
Colonel MEDILL what his views are of the
legality of the transfers of Indian agents
made in the California and New Mexico
appointments, because he is now private
citizen. The Union ventures to think that
he is too sensible to consider them legal,
and too honest to have recommended them.
This opinion of the Union is very opposite
to what we hear reported Of Col. MEDILL's
acts and opinions; Of his honesty we have
no desire to question what the Union says.
Not only does common report ascribe
other views and recommendations to the
colonel, but the Union itself admits as much
in the very article in which it says the con-
trary; for, in point of legality, it made
no difference whether the agencies were
transferred to Santa Fe and Salt Lake, or to
the "Kansas river" and the sIndian terri
tory bordering on Texas" which latter
transfers, it is conceded, he recommended
should be made. Let us see what a cor
respondent, "who seems to be more ia
miliar than we the Union are with the
files of the Indian bureau" published in
that paper last Sunday. The Union re-
produces the annexed extract, and itali-
cises it to make il more impressive
an haze been informed that the late Commissionsr
recommended, not the appointment qf nesc and ins1
perenced agents, but the transf1 Of old agents not
to Santa Fs and Salt Lake, but TO the Kansas,
there 10 watch and protect citizens soho
10 pass that great torougfars to California, and
the Other 10 that portion Of the Indian country the
borders of 7sras and recent events sloo homo correct
has pe,os, and hoto much haus been needed the
al. l.
recommended they should be stationed
What does Colonel MEDILL here recon-
mend
First, that the sold agents" be transfer
red. We suppose it quite as legal to trans
fer new ones as old ones. II seems, how
ever, Colonel MEDILL desired the Loco
foco agents kept in Office. So much for
so much.
In the next place, it seems that he re-
commended them to be transferred to the
kansas river" and the "Indian ter
ritory bordering on Texas" Whether the
Salt Lake is as constitutional location for
an Indian agency as the Kansas river, and
Santa Fe is within lawful distance of the
borders of Texas, we leave altogether to
the Union's political metaphysics to de-
eide.
But, in the third place, we have the
weighty reason for this Recommendation,
to wit the one to the Kansas river to
watch over and protect our citizens who
are to pass over that great thoroughfare to
California" and the other I" to that por-
ton of the Indian territory bordering on
Texas" merely because he was wanted
there, we suppose--for the extract adduces
no other more special reason.
How were these agents to get to their
destination Rv whom accompanied (,