The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-24
THE UNITED STATES INDIAN COMMISSION.

Lecture by Colonel e. w. Wynkoop-His
Views Upon the Treatment of the Indians
Violations of Treaties by tho Whites-A
Sketch of Black Kettle-Gcncrnl Cullen
Deprecates Our Bad Faith with the In-
dams.
very interesting lecuture was delivered last
night at the Cooper Institute, the treatment OF
the Indians. by Colonel E. w. wynkooD late United
states Indian Agent.
The Secretary read letter signed by Peter Cooper
and others requesting Colonel wynkoop to give his
views the causes that induced him to resign the
office ofGovernment agent for the Cheyenne, Arapa-
hoe and Apache Indians and also the causes that
led to the recent troubles with them; and further
they requested his opinion OF Black Kettle his con-
duct and designs.
Before he proceeded with. his lecture he read q
letter from Bishop Whipple, OF Minnesota the pur-
port Of which was previously published in the
NHERALD:-
LETTER OF COMMISSIONER wYNKooP.
NEW YORK, Dec. % 1868.
TO PETER COOPER and others:-
GESrLEMEN-ln response to your first question as
10 what induced me To resign the ONCE held as
agent OF the Arapahoe and Cheyenne Indians
would state that the causes have already been set
forth in my Official communication to the Depart
ment Of the Interior, to which publicity has been
given, but have no 0bie ton to recapitulate. After
hostltes had been existing for q short time with
the Indians OF the Upper Arkansas, and suary
with those OF my agency, received an order
from the Office OF the indian Bureau to proceed to
Fort CooD, on the Washita river, to that vicinity,
and congregate at the point. might select such
Indians as were disposed to be friendly, to subsst
and take care OF the same, to &C, In cooperation
with General Hazen, who was detailed by the War
Department on special duty OF like character,
While route 10 Fort Cobb learned that the differ
ent columns OF troops who were IN the field were
making that LOCALITY their objective point; that
volunteer regiment from Kansas was march
ing In the Same direction, with the ex-
pressed determination to kill all Indians they
might meet, under any crcum stances Knowing II
| fulfilled my instructions, was only acting as
decoy to induce these Indians to present themselves
In locality where they were liable 10 be fallen upon
at any moment and murdered had nothing left me
but to resign the commission held or else by fol-
lowing my instructions become accessory to the
CRIME, which knew must be the inevitable conse-
Of congregating the Indians at the point mentioned.
In regard TO the causes OF the Indian war which
from my own personal knowledge. would say,
without hesitation. that the initiative has In every
instance been taken by our own people. Ten years
who started from the isrritory Of Kansas to seek
their fortunes In the region OF the Rocky Mountains
s se foUgy + Se pss
journey thltner we passed through numerous
bands OF Indians, VIZ, Kiowas, Comanches,
them we're canped along the Arkansas river all the
way to the Rocky Mountains. We were treated hos
pitably ny them and with the utmost Kindness. We
were the vanguard oil % army OF emigrants who
were soon to take possession Of their hunting
grounds, and II would have been but simple effort
Tor them 70 nave crushed US al that time had they
felt so dlspased; but on the contrary, wnen the
nucleus n which we formed had gathered TO-
mouth OF Cherry creek, where now stands
that the supposed treasures II these mountains
would attract thousands who must necessarily en-
croach upon their rights, still their intercourse was
OF the most pacific character, and the emigration
continued to now In during tue years 1858, $50, 100,
friendly relations existing between the Ineaan aud
the white man were interrupted but during the year
1863 that country was cursed with the presence OF
man In power, the commander II military district,
in which was included the Territory OF Colorado,
whose position gave him absolute sway, and whose
name Is synonymous with infsmy. Colonel l. NJ.
Chivington, having had his command reduced BY
those who were endeavoring toiissever our Union,
found that It was necessary to 10 something to re-
tain him Ia the most exalted position he had ever
held-that OF commander of military district
fore thought It was polite % inaugurate an
Indian war. Finding q godi opportunity, on
the pretence that q certain hunting party
Indians os on Sad run on some
time were driving toward rancle to return to their
lawful owners he ordered detachment OF his troops
to make an attack upon them. They naturally de-
mish, in which some lives wcfe lost, and from
that arose the cry OF an Indian war. Under
the orders OF this monster the troops then took
the field 10 kill all the Indians that they might
meet. The Indians, In retaliation for the wrongs
that had been imposed upon them, naturally com
mitted Expectations whenever they had an opp0rtu.
nity but after this state OF things had existed Tor
couple OF months under the influence Of the older
and wiser heads OF their race retre1 rom the hgn
ways and the vicinity OF the settlements and sued
for peace An armstce existed for short time and
then came the fearful massa re OF sand creek, " IN
the details OF which almost every one Is ialniiar'