The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-31

droyer to the herd. III this information was
oorrect-and believe it was--the Commission
err was deceived, and fraud, TO small extent
was perpetrated on the Government | know
myself that no Indians were in camp at the
time; at all events, whether true or not, ! wa,
satisfied in my own mind that frauds could be
practiced with IMMUNITY, unless different sys
TEN of accountability was adopted
"At another time, beet, broken down or
the road and unable to walk was butcherec
at distance Of nearly mile from camp by
the same individual above mentioned, and III
was directed by the chief droyer to dress the
ANIMAL and leave it there for issue to Indians
when no Indians were present; this was told
me by the man himself as a frst-rate Joke
showing how easy it was to dispose of broken
down cattle. Of course | am not aware that
this beef was charged as an issue, but was sat
isfed that the occurrence took place as stated
and, if actually charged the Commissioner was
deceived
There are tangible points in the system
forced upon my attention, which caused me t.
allude to the subject in my official report, and
which led me to believe that better one could
be adopted"
Agent Mckee was furnished with copy Of
this letter; which being communicated to Cap
tain Vessels, he replied as follows, adhering
TO his first positions, with few slight quallil-
cations:
Extract Of a letter from Major Vessels to Cap
tain Townsend, A. A. e., dated BenieiG Bar
racks, March 80, 1852.
| "The communication Of Col R. Mckee In
dian agent, dated Goth inst, addressed to the
commanding general Pacific division, has been
referred to me; and, after perusal ! must beg
leave to insist upon the position assumed by
myself as set forth in my official report OF No
vember last and communication OF 2lstnpst,
in regard to issues of beef to Indians. The sys-
TEN | still maintain is open to great abuse, and
on that account the subject was alluded to in
my report. lt was my intention to be accurate
in every particular; but it is possible that my
assertion in regard to the secretary of the COM
mission having entire control Of the issues
should have been less comprehensive, and am
willing to qualify that remark SO far as to say
that the secretary had entire control of the
herd of cattle intended for ISSUE which was
the fact No reference whatever has been
made by me to 'rumors rife throughout the
country my statements are mere facts, Just
as they occurred. mentioned that 'specula-
ton was rife, and on this account attention
was directed to the herd of cattle as a specula-
ton of magnitude, inquiries being frequently
made of me as TO the nature Of the contract, by
different individuals anxious to engage in it."
Copy of letter from Colonel E. 4. Hitchcock,
I'd Infantry, TO Superintendent Beale dated
San Francisco, September q, 1882
IL have just received your communication of
this date, requesting such information as may
be able to furnish you, likely to be of service
in the execution of your duties as superintend-
ent Of Indian affairs in this country; and ask
ing transportation for agent r. Mckee, with
the troops about to proceed to the northern
boundaries of the State
"Our duties will necessarily havc much in
fuence upon each other and it will afford me
the greatest pleasure to furnish you any infor-
nation ] may chance to have, which may
promise to be useful. In regard to agent Nc
kec, regret to say, but do SO from sense of
duty that his presence with the troops will
not, in my opinion, be productive of any advan-
tage to the public Information to some ex-
tent, and rumor to much greater extent, have
impaired my confidence in Colonel McKee's
usefulness as public agent and do not hest
tate to request that he may not be directed to
accompany the troops"
With respect to sub-agcnt Johnson, made
a communication to the Department on the
30th September, 1852, (of which here give an
extract and add that ne has given out various
certificates, of which some were presented to
me for payment, and refused also, that he
drew drafts, Of which one was for cattle which
had not been delivered; and of all which trans
actions he may have made a report to the Gov
| crnment.
Extract of a letter from Superintendent Beait
10 Luke Lea, Esq, Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs, dated San Francisco, September 80
1852.
"Adam Johnson, late Indian sub-agent
called on me few days ago, with the verbal
request that would settle his accounts |,
appears he was dismissed from tho service r
January and has nevertheless failed, since thai
time, to forward his accounts for settlement
AS the date of his dismissal was previous tC
my appointment, and the fault that his &C
counts remained unsettled his own, did not
feel that he had any claim on me. | replied
to him, however, that if he brought the subject
before me in an official manner. would give
it my attention. believe he has since sen,
them to Washington"
believe the drafts drawn for cattle not vel
delivered, wcrc for 2, 100 head, Of which zoe
were by agent Wozencraft, and I 400 by sub.
agent Johnson. These transactions took place
before | was appointed superintendent and
are reported for tho information of the De-
partment and the explanation of the parties
Agent Wozencraft is here and the holders OF
the Johnson drafts also
now turn to the condition of the Indians
in California and the necessity of doing some.
thing for their relief and protection Their
condition it truly deplorable. Driven from
their hunting and fishing grounds, in danger
of starving, many of them made to work en-
tirely without compensation, and continual
massacres going on. To give an account OF
all these is impossible, and shall chiefly have
recourse to official reports heretofore made as
q sample Of what is done, and to show theme
cessity of relieving them. And first give an
instance of this new mode Of oppression to
the Indians, of catching them like cattle and
making them work, and turning them out to
starye and die when the work-season was over
Ii relates to scene of which there are many
Instances, and the knowledge of which coming
to me from report, sent out a reliable person
to attend to the case. 1t must be added that
these oppressed Indians, while actually starving
to death, were only fifteen miles from San Fran.
CISCO surrounded by Settlers and their stock
and took nothing The indictment spoken OF
consider rs ending in nothing.
Copy Of a letter from J. H. Jenkins to Supsrtn.
tendent Beale, dated San Francisco January
10, 1853.
81 have the honor OF informing You that,
in obedience to your letter of instructions of
date December 8, 1882, went over to the San
Pablo rancho, in Contra Costa county, to in.
vestigate the matter of alleged cruel treatment
of Indians there. found scventy.eight on
this rancho, and twelve back of Martinez, and
they were there most of them sick, all withou,
clothes or any iocd but the fruit of the buck.
eye Up to the time of my coming, eighteen
had died of starvation at one camp; how many
at the other could not learn. These Indians
were brought into this country from some
place near Cloar Lake by Californians, named