The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-08-05
N AsHlNGTON CITY
AFFAIRs Inn KANsAs.

series papers relating affairs in the Territory OF Kan
sasi among which was copy Of letter from Governor
Redsrto Commissioner Manypenny in which the former
insisted that the question of the legality and proprey Of
hs proceedings in relation certain contracts for the pur-
Of haEbreed Indian reseryationswhich the latter
had characterized "ndelicaie and improper
passed upon by President together with the reply
thereto 81 lie Commissioner copy Of letter from Gov
eaoF Reeder 70 the President Of the United States
raigning upon charges Of grave character the official
conduct Of George W Clarke esq, agent Of the United
States for the Kansas tribe Of Indians and that agents
py ana also copy Of letter from the Secretary of State
70 Governor Reeder Of which the following is extract
am directed by the President Inform you that with
the developments before him In reference purchases Of
hbreed reservations made by in the Territory
Kansas and in which, you state, Judges Johnston and
Emoe OF the supreme court of the Territory and Mr.
lsaac the district attorney participated and in reference
other spsenlaons by lands of the Territory
apparently violation of Congress and of regulations
OF the department he feels embarrassed to how, cons
teDy with his convictions Of duty he allow the present
Official relation the Territory Of yourself OF either Of the
other gentlemen named continues unless the impressions
which upon his mind shall be removed by satisfae
tory explanations
That there may misrepresentation in regard TO the
explanations ELECTED from Governor Reeder by the
above letter from the Secretary of State concerning mat
terra Of So general interest and importance the whole
country we spread before readers to-day the remain
ing correspondence upon this particular subject and also
copy Of letter from the Acting secretaryof State to
Governor Reeder informing him that for specified
heein his functions and authority governor Of the
Territory of Kansas thereby terminated.
Gouer0f Reedcr Secretary Of State nth accompanying
note, and a statement By Il. Q. Nc Carly.
SHAWNEE Mission, kansas Territory
June &C. 1855.
in brief of he insta
from New York avail myself of the first opportunity TO
reply your letter Of the 18th That letter mentions
causes complaint against in the opinion Of The Pres
ident purchases of Kansas halbreed reservations made
by in the Territory of Kansas and also ohcr specu-
atons in lands Of the Territory of Kansas apparently in
violation OF Of Congress and Of regulations OF the de-
partments and NJ the time invites any explanation
which may desire to give in regard to the character and
extent OF the transactions referred and particular
y the spoken of in the letter OF g. W. Clarke In
dian agent dated May 8, 1855.
thus put upon my defence separate charges
first the purchase of hafbreed Kansas lands; and sec
oudy other specuatons in lands of the Territory appa
euy in violation of acts of Congress and regulations Of
the departments
The very general in which these charges are
stated the entire absence of any specification which 10
make point raise ISSUE and the omission to state
in what particular the President any wrong have
been committed what of Congress regulation
the department has been violated matters of regret
and embarrassment to me- because they preclude conf
dence in the pertnence Of my reply need not inform so
eminent jurist yourself how impossible it is in mat
Of elimination and defence attain justice and truth
without distinct uncquiyOcal SPECIFICATION OF
charge the sde and direct nil and pointed
swer the other In the absence of these, parties
may wander in side issues departures evasons, and
certantes without reaching aconcluson and there
fore with the highest respect take the liberty Of calling
your attention TO this feature of your letter full apo
og for nyselt in shall engage in the discussion of
matters which the President may not consider IN issue
shall Sufficiently full and certain in speaking Of the
polnt ~ which he thinks he sees the wrong
In relation TO the first charge of purchase of halfbreed
Kansas lands have say that have purchased such
lands at ALL With others have only agreed TO purchase
them IN the contemplated purchase shall receive the
sanction and appreciation of the Pesident and this in
my opinion, is material and substantial difference I'M
iii the President by his appreciation and the vendors by
the execution OF their deeds shall consummate The con-
tract il precudes from any interest in the land and
the privilege Of entering possessing it Ven
dors and yendees until then all their rights
changed and unaffected and if the President shall not
sent to the contracts it win be the same as though they
had never been made
If there is any wrong in the matter it is wrong
committed but at most only attempted and in the
face Of all probability, wrong which expected to be
sanctioned by the President
The papers submitted by the President the
- day of January last for his approval and the gov
eminent have been for years past habit approving
similar contracts we did not apprehend any difficulty
whatever
They referred to the Indian Bureau and the Conn
missioner reported adversely the confirmation alleging
that tue vendors bad right to sell that there
evidence OF their competency to manage their own affairs
that there evidence produced by of the value
the land that the transaction had not been brought TO
the notice OF the Indian agent; that certificate pre-
scented to the President prove the official character of
officer whom the President had himself appointed and
that the purchase-money (Which to be paid in cash
when the deed madc) had not been sufficiently
cured and that in the opinion of the Commissioner the
contract was demoralizing and dsgraceful.,
neither this last based upon the assumption
OF actual fraud in the contract upon the Commission
ers idea that public officers had right purchase
confess have never been able after careful examination
the report to discover Upon receiving this report the
President the day of January, without rejection
approval ordered the papers be Observation-Disclosures with
view 10 enable us to supply the formal deficiencies de-
manded by business regulations Of the department, OF
which we had been ignorant
We inferred, OF course, that the last above
concurred in by the President or he would at once
have sapproved the terminated the whole
proceeding We proceeded TO supply the formal dcicien-
ce and in the beginning OF May last again laid the pa
pes before the President with argument and brief
from myself to prove from the opinions of Attorneys Cen
era and the decisions Of the Supreme Court that the
dors had right SELL dispositions proving their denti-
y their competency to manage their affairs and the
value OF the land proof that the matter had been brought
to the notice of the Indian agent and that he had made
objections TO which add now my assertion that dis
ncuy stated to MIN that had agreed purchase
tract and would endeavor contract for others and al
though MIR. Clarke denies in general way that the matter
brought before him. he is contradiced by aega
ton and the deposition of a disintercsted witness.
These papers not acted by the President up
the 25th May, and have knowledge that they have
been acted up tbis time To the matters contained
in them and letter Of April L. 1885, to Commissioner
Muaypenny, which the President informed he had
read have but little TO add unless my attention shall be
called TO some particular point
We knew that the vendors entirely competent 10