The New York herald., 1871-11-20
How the Indian Peace Policy
Operates.
Pathetic Statement Of an Indian
Brave.
American Claims for Outrages
i'm Cuba.
THE CASE OF sPEAKMAN.

suspended Tor mOntn all business except tQe pre-
paration Of their required report to Congress at the
commencement OF the session, ana expect to SUBJ
mt in addition to general report OF their proceed
ings ana such recommendations as seem pcrtinenr,
separate rep0rts In at least ve hundred cases. and
possibly Q hundred or two over that number.
They are reucens as to their conclusion In
Individual cases, and equally reserved as to
their general policy on the knotty points OF
their jurisdiction but there is general understand
ing among those Immediately concerned as princ-
pals or agents that considerable slaughtering work
has been done. and that such recommendations as
are made will be OF fireproof character. This Inn
preston acts in contrary directions upon dincrenr
classes OF claimants, those Of shaky kind assuming
q don't care and didn't expect sort OF attitude,
while others, who thought they were entitled to
something, but feared to be swamped with the
rest begin to think there Is something for
them In the treasury after ALL and are taking heart
accordingly. One fact viii operate strongly with
Congress in favor OF the recommendations OF the
Commissioners. Four-ffths OF the claims are not
only OF very small amounts, but represent nearly
everything that the ravages of war have left to the
claimants. The Commissioners, appreciating the
difficulties OF their position, have departed mate.
rally from former traditions and customs observed
In the investigation OF government claims, and have
not only used the press to let daylight into all their
proceedings, but placarded the Southern Post
Of1ces and other federal institutions in Dixie with
printed lists OF the claimants, accompanied by re-
quests for authentic information concerning the
claims and their owners This course has given
offence In some quarters and brought discourage
ment In some others; but the Commissioners express
themselves satisfied with the general results and
intead to continue the practice on an improved
basis. They have been greatly embarrassed by the
hurried manner in which the legislation
wKch established ther functions and de-
fined their jurisdiction was put through,
tackled on TO an appropriation bill, at
the very tail end OF o short session. They are
almost destitute Of the facilities possessed by other
government oflces for conducting their business
and this has been hardship to merit0rious claim
ants as well as to themselves 1t is now expected
BY them, however, that Congress will 80
far recognize the advantage OF getting
the docket cleared OF everything that can
form an excuse for q demand upon the
Treasury arising out OF the war in
the South as to give them the means of laying all
such claims forever at rest by final action upon
each one presented within specified time. They
have yet to consider over ten thousand remaining
claims, with more coming In daily, and now tnat
the thing has been started 1t Will, as o matter OF
certainty, have to run Its course. Independent OF
Its value as q party machine in the coming politi
cal campaign
The Cuban Outrages ON Americans.
The American and Spanish Commission Will meet
again on the lst or December. Several claims have
been nled, among them that OF the widow OF
Charles Speakman, who was shot at Santiago dc
Cuba on tine 18th OF June, 1869. Speakman left
New York on the American schooner Grape
shot as sailor, bound for Falmouth, Ja-
matca. After dropping anchor in the Lower
Bay, during the night a steamtug came
alongside and put on board OF the schooner fifty
armed men. Suspectlng the object OF the voyage
to be an expedition to Cuba he protested and re-
quested OF the captain to be sent ashore. The
captain assured him he should not touch on the
coast OF Cuba, but land the men at Jamaica. and
that the vessel would proceed for cargo Of cocoa
nuts. When OF Cape Maysi, at the eastern end
OF Cuba, the captain keeping on his course,
the armed men took possession OF the
vessel changed her course and landed
their men and cargo at Baiquir. Beng compelled
to remain, he sauntered about the beach, The men
were soon attacked by Spanish troops. and after o
short encounter retcated to the interior. Finding
himself alone, Speakman sought place OF safety,
for the purpose OF surrendering himself to tue au-
tnorities, and being without arms for per-
sonal defence, and finding rifle on
the road, left by some fallen Cuban TOOK possession
OF It, and upon meeting two uDarmed men gave
himself up ana In no case used the arms against
the government, having never fired single snot.
lie prayed for respite to prove his innocence but
was not granted tho opportunity to do so Tho
claim presented is for $S0s000.
The Peace Policy Among tho Iniians.
There is no doubt Judging from the numerous let
tiers recently received here, that Congressman from
the Pacific Coast will move for inquiry into the
management OF Indian AFFAIRS in order to ascertain
| orncIaly whether the pence policy as admins
| tered through the Board OF Indian Commits
sloners has been successful. 1t is argued b,
the writer's OF the le'!ers that while th'
commissioners arc, doubtIess '"'" o'
humane mo,,ve. ''s caRaQt be applied
adlscrminatey to all Indian tribes anu bangs:
They say, though 1t may succeed with some OF the
savages, Others, being more aggressive and war.
like, cannot be brought under civizing influences
and therefore the peace and the war policies should
be separately applied as circumstances may require
Friends OF the peace policy, on the other hand
charge that the Indian reservation system Is in
ger OF not having fair trial In Arizona, and In
support or this assertion they refer to informa-
ton recently received from Camp Grant
reservation which shows that The white citizens Of
Tucson, having failed IN their late effort to break
ND the reservations by means OF an armed force,
now resort to the novel expedicnt OF inducing the
Grand Jury to nnd indictments against individual
indians, charging them with murder, &C., and
sending bairs, assisted By soldiers furnished by
the military commander, TO the reservation
to search for ana arrest them. The erect OF the
marching OF the armed force through the reserva-
tion has been to drive the Indians away At the
last ration day II appeared that about oLehalf OF
the Indians alarmed for their personal safety, had
ned TO the mountains; hence there Is danger that
these fugitives may return to their old habits OF
stealing their Iood. One or the chiefs who had been
thus hunted described hts situation while speak
ing 70 the agent who Is an ofncer OF the army. He
satd:-
After my people were killed at the massacre Of
April 80. and my children taken captive by the peo.
pie OF 1uesou. and not returned TO me, and the
Soldiers having again fred upon me, went TO the
mountains upon the war path. They had Killed my
two wives, my four children and forty.six