, 1866-06-14

WAsu1so1oN c1T1, D. C., Jnne 10, 'e5.
Editor Chicago Tribune:
SIR: was surprised by IN editorial In your
paper Of the 9Th, In which you say /" Colonel
Phillips owes 1t to those who have been mis-.
led by bis statements, either to produce the
evidence on which he relics, or to acknowl-
edge that he has been guilty OF misrepresen.
tation."
do not write to take exception to any &C.
tion taken, OF canvass whether 1t was tudi-
cious or proper. I presume your correspou-
dent can speak for himself. Alter arrived
in Washington. some time ago, your CORES.
pondeut voluntarily sought information from
me. visiting me Tor that purpose, at the in-
stance, he said, OF Hon. Sidney Clarke, n. c.
He exhibited, before I told him anything, ell
tire familiarity with all points referred to, but
wished further Information. In reference to
gross abuses In Indian matters, referred him
10 the reports Of Inspector General Marcy,
of 1864, Of Major General Heron and Colonel
St. Clair, of the Army Inspection Department.
l intimated TO him that intended to pre-
vent the continuance of what deemed very
great and dangerous abuses, and that would
probably demand an investigation thereon,
I also informed him {of what was public mat
teri that had gone before the Indian Com
m1ttee to prevent what deemed the i'm
proper appropriation Of nearly a million Of
dollars, and to secure investigation of gross
abuses carried on under the plea Of feeding
destitute Indians.
further sent correspondence to the New
York Tribune, referring to the matter, the
authorship Of which promptly ackuowl-
edged, said article indicating the shape had
designed any investigation to take. Ny let
ter had been published for twelve days. The
letter Of 4 correspondent Of Boston paper
assuming to dx responsibility had evolved
public action In the Senate, before your cor
respondents letter was written, and get
have never seen him since such publication.
When l lust saw him understood that he
would make no publication.
do not wish to complain OF your corres-
pondcnt, however, who thus, without con-
sultfne me, puts the matter to which I had
given publicity, In different shape, 1 having
intended It to be an inquiry into general
abuse, rather than an inquiry INTO the
guilt or innocence of any suspected official.
enclose copy ofa correspondence which en-
sued On your correspondents letter, to indi-
cate the premature character ofyour remarks:
WAsu1xGToN CITY, June 0, 1865.
Sin: Your attention Is invited to the letter
from sour Own Correspondent" dated
Washington, May II, and published in the
Chicago TRIBUNE Of June S, containing mat
ter derogatory to me as q Senator, In which
your name is used. shall be pleased to hear
ifom you On the subject. Yours,
(Signed) J.H.LArF.
Col. ". A. PHILLIPS.
WAsuix0ToH C1FY, y. c., June 0, 1866.
SIR: In reply to your inquiry of this date,
have to say that the information have iE
regard to the charge against you published
IN the letter of the Washington correspou-
dent OF the Chicago TRIBUNE Of the 5th inst,
Of receiving sa0, 600 Of the profits Of IN Indian
contract, was communicated to nc by Gen.
G. W. Deltzler, Of Lawrence, Kansas,
Very Respectfully,
Hon. JAs.H. LANE. ". A. Pn1LL1ps.
In conclusion, let me say, Sir, that when I
did not publish the name Of any of the per-
sons who might be involved, 1t was simply
because deemed 1t proper that 1t should be
q matter Of evidence, thus avoiding the posi-
binty ofinjustice to any one, In publication.
My purpose was not to prove the guilt of
this or that man, but the pernfcioUs charac-
ter Of the system, which felt sure would be
evolved by Investigation.
You see, however, do not; even under the
circumstances In which nm sought to be
placed, avoid just responsibility. In the
same spirit promptly declined to reply to q
note asking me to say that had not author
led the correspondent OF the Boston Com
,no4ssoea11a to fl responsibility. although I
might 20 have written.
In this msttcr, involving the gravest inter- J