The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-07-28
A STRIKING ILLUSTRATION OF DEM
OCRATIC ECONOMY.

On every hand we have evidence of the prod
igal waste of the public money, as well as
downright robbery of the Treasury, by the par
ty in power. The following letter from Arson
Dart, Esq, late superintendent of Indian AZ
fairs in Oregon, to the Indian Aid Association,
brings to light rich field Of Democratic
peculation and misgovernment. 1t will be
seen that, besides increasing the annual ex-
pense of the Indian department for Oregon by
from fifteen to thirty fold, the bloody military
rule established by the Democracy produced a
war between the Indians and the people of the
Territory, which will cost the Government some
fire millions Of dollars. This sum, judiciously
expended, would educate, civilize, and stock a
farm for every Indian west of the Rocky Noun
tains. But the blacklist crime of the De-
mocracy in this connection is the institution
of a system of misgovernment, which has pro-
duced bloody and savage war between the
whites and Indians:
Z" To the Indian Aid Association
" l am fully persuaded that the effort you are
making to change the present mode of treat
ment, as now practiced by our Government to-
in proportion to the amount of truth and cor
rect knowledge that shall reach the people upon
this subject
"But while there are so many persons that
are directly or indirectly interested in keeping
up the present system, which calls for the ex.
pendture of so many millions of dollars an
nually, you will find it very difficult to get the
truths and facts before the people.
".The result of my acts, while Superintendent
of Indian Affairs, in the country now the State
of Oregon and Washington Territory, should
have some weight in sustaining the position
taken by you and others, that kind treatment
to the Indians costs but little, while it is sure to
make them peaceable and friendly to the white
people.
Before entered upon the duties of my of.
fee, l procured the aid of the then able dele
gate, S. r. Thurston, Esq. to- persuade the
Secretary of War to remove from Oregon all
the United States troops. This request was
complied with in few months after / reached
Oregon, in 1850; therefore, during my stay of
about three years in that country, it was not
armed justice that kept all of the Indian tribes
of that extensive country peaceable and friend.
fy 10 the white people.
Z" The entire cost to the Government for every
purpose connected with Indian Affairs, for the
three gears in suestion, was about 81 900.
This sum included about $28,000 expended for
Indian presents, and about $4,000 for the
Superintendent and Agency houses, and the
entire cost of negotiating thirteen Indian trea.
ties, the salaries of the Superintendent and six
agents, interpreters, clerk, provisions for In
dams, travelling expenses, &c.
:" But the cost TO the Government for man.
aging these same Indians under the more pop
altar system adopted from 1853 to 1856, under
the sound of the drum and fife, has been from
100000 up to $4,000 per annum. This,
you will bear in mind, is over and above the
itde loar debt Of some .fpe millions yet unpaid.
I" The statements above you will find cor
roborated by reference 10 the files in the Sec
ond Auditor Office at Washington.
" am in possession of many other interest
ing facts connected with Indian Affairs, which,
if made public, would, think, aid you very
much in your laudable efforts in behalf of the
abOrigines of our country.
" have the honor be, very respectfully, your
obedient servant. Arson DART,
" Late Superintendent Of Indian Affairs
an OREGON"