The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-01

The Possibility of the white and the Red nnu
Livipg ToEether In Pence Tho ImposltIonE
on the Indians and the Governments Tn q
Manifest Duty Of Congress.
We have received from William Welsh ESQ.,,
Of this city letter written by a well-known
army officer, relative to the Indian troubles and
the duty OF the Government in the present cri-
sis. The writer knows thoroughly whereof he
afrms, and what he says will command the
earnest attention of thinking people. In intro
duction Mr.. Welsh says:-
General Gibbon, the writer of the following
letter, rs brave officer who had much inter-
course with Indians in Florida and elsewhere
He Is able to trace Indian wars to their true
source, but the mere statement of wrongs
makes feeble impression upon the reader
although strengthened by the Indians piteous
complaint, Our words never reach the ear of
the Great Fatherp How quickly the whole
nation would be aroused to action if even
score OF white landed proprietors had been
cOerced TO yield up the most of their posses
siOus, and the annual payment therefor taken
Tor political patronage, aud the right of petition
denied except through the very men who were
detraudiDg them! 1T a few whites thus treated
would make an Irresistible appeal to us as men
and citizens, surely little zeal on the part of
those who have Witnessed similar wrongs to our
Indian wards should not seem unnatural. Ii is
said that no advocate for the re-introduceion of
slavery could now be elected to Congress In any
portion of the United States so great ia the
the costliness in life blood of this change causes
an involuntary shudder Defrauded Indian
chiefs and warriors have often asked me If any
thing but warning against the white man could
induce this Government to deal honorably with
the red man. The change Of public sentiment in
favor OF the Indian has been so rapid within the
last two years that surely bloodless revolution
Is at hand. The present Congress during the
few remaining days of Its session will no doubt
give practical evidence of this blessed change"
GENERAL GIBBONS LETTER
FORT SHAW, Montana Territory, Feb. H. 1871.
My Dear sir:-l have just finished reading your
very interesting indian report, sent me, presume,
by Mr. G. H. stuart. Its perusal fills me with re,
newed confidence In the scheme, now for the nrst
people.
There are two meaps, and / believe but two. OF
rendering the occupancy OF this country by the two
races white and red, possible. one is peaceful aud
the other Is warke, and for one prefer the former
one principal reason why the warike has been
used heretofore almost universally is in consequences
OF the almost inconceivabie corruption existing in
the Indian Bureau which scarcely any one ever en-
tered except for the avowed object OF making for
tune, and he WAS unfortunate indeed who failed TO
succeed. Knowing as / do the corruptions which
formerly existed and the impostions upon both
the only wonder to me is that we
have ever been able to have peace with any OF the
own eloquent way how dosolate and abandoned is
their condition when they say "that their Great
ear" Thank God! they now closer TO his ear
than they have ever been before. No one not per.
abuses formerly existing I'm the Indian Department.
(The recital OF fearful abuses is omitted est the in
nocent might suffer for wrongs done by their
This is the kind OF thing which you, gentlemen,
are called upon TO unearth, expose and correct,
and, judging from your report, you in fair way
Of doing It, The officers OF the army rave hereto
fore not been in position to make this exposure
themselves, but feel they will do all in their
power to aid you in doing IL, and will bid YOU
heartily God-speed In your undertaking. As a class
they have no ambition for a war with Indians and
them npappIll al
means ana the justice which they have nsUsr thus
far received. Fighting Indians has this great dis
advantage compared with the system YOU are fol.
lOwngfOr, besides the loss of life and greater ex-
ptnse, TIE result when any definite result is
reached is the determination of the Indians, for
war with them must be that aud nothing else.
My observation Convinces me that the wild Indian
OF ,G!s country m Is susceptible p ole Of great cultivation
he possesses as well as the white man, aud n fact
In higher degree than the great majority OF the
Western country. II different idea has heretofore
prevailed 1t has been in consequence OF the bad
qualities developed In the Indian nature by an asso
citation with the worst qualities OF the white man.
just as evil communications corrupt children; for
Indians in their Wild state are but grown children
and, like them, soon learn TO Distinguish
1ntultiyely their friends from their enc
mics Like children, too, their acts are all
impulses are bad their acts so, and the reverse
So all our enueavors should be TO ncite them to good
have OIJeD observed with children that no matter
how bad they are by nature, they generally manage
TO restrain their evil propensites In the presence OF
those they know are their friends and that such is
the case with Indians know. The most successful
man in managing and controlling them ever saw
always had this one fixed principle, never
TO deceive them, and he always asserted
that 1t was more dihlcult to re
gain the confidence OF an Indian once deceived
than II was to gain that confidence originally This
man, the late Captain John q. Casey, OF the army
could go about anywhere In Florida with safety
when no other white man could do 80. The fact
that good men are sometimes murdered aud in
numanely tortured is no argument against this
view for when the Indian Is at war aud excited TO
fury, his impulse s TO torture and XIII ali white
enemies, and he cannot tell friend on sight Per-
severe then, my dear sir in your good work OF ciyi
zatton and concilation and rest assured that your
efforts will meet with the hearty endorsement OF
every fair-miDded man In the country.
Very respectfully yours,