The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-12-14
THE CHEROKEE PENSION
FRAUDS.
From the Indianapolis Journal.


The attention of the country has been
very unpl easantly called, in number of
instances, to Senator Harlan, Of Iowa, a
gentleman of whom to think we'll would !
cause us the liveliest feelings of satisfac-
ton. The Cincinnati gazette, for period
of years, has published the gravest
charges against him, affecting his political
and moral integrity, based generally upon
his official conduct while acting as Sec.
rotary of the Interior. Senator Harlan
has often found himself in position
where he owed it to himself, as we'll as to
the Senate of the United States of which
he is now a member, to demand prompt
and full investigation of all these matters
that if innocent he might be relieved Of
all suspicion, and if guilty the Senate
might purge itself of so unworthy mem
Der. Instead of this Mr.. Harlan has very
quietly sat in his seat, allowing the Sian
derous charges to accumulate daily.
permitting many good people all over the
country, who had been his warm personal
friends, to be alienated from him and to
hope for his defeat by the Iowa Legislature
wherever it should have an opportunity
to elect his successor. The Gazette re
turns to the attack yesterday, accompany
ing it's new thrust with a statement which
we have no hesitancy in saying demands
Of the Senate immediate notice, so soon
as that body convenes next month. Many
a less grave statement has been made the
basis for Congress ional inquisition, and
in the present temper Of the people such
statements as these will not be forgotten
in a trice. The present charge against
Senator Hallan is of some irregularity as
Secretary of the Interior with reference
to the Pension Bureau being grounded
upon an order of the Secretary's, said to
be in existence in the department., and Of
which the substance is printed. With
reterenre to this order the G0zette'S Wash
ington correspondent says:
One word in reference to the character
Of the order,as shown by the declarations
of those now having it IN possession. An
Assistant Secretary, on being applied to
for copy oft, said it could not, on any
account, be furnished, assigning as d
reason that it would seriously injure
Senator Harlan. A Secretary declined to
allow it to be published, assigning the
same reason. Another high official of
the government, who, though fully aware
of it's contents, had no authority to furnish
1t, said that, if not withheld; sit would
exercise most disastrous influence upon
Senator Harlans election"
This is quite specific and quite disgrace
full. 1t points too clearly to the identity
of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary
for the Senate to be greatly misled. If
any order Of Mr.. Harlan's is on file in the
department which would have "a dis
astrous influence" upon his election, we
want to see it brought out, that the PEG
pie Of Iowa may be fully aroused to the
duty of defeating such man in the cam
paign he is now making for a second
term. Our information is to the effect
that his defeat is probable but if the
above paragraph is true, we should like
the probability to be reduced to dead
certainty.
Special Despatch to the Boston Daily Advertiser.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. 81.
THE WRIGHT INDIAN FRAUDS
The law officers OF the Interior Depart
ment have been engaged to-day upon the
evidence in the Wright Indian frauds, to
determine whether sufficient facts are in
the possession Of the government to war
rant criminal proceedings and suits to re-
cover the missing money. The later in
vestigations are very far from improving
the aspect of the case, and it is believed,
by those best informed, that the depart
ment can hardly fail to go forward and
prosecute, even were it disposed other
wise, as seemed probable few days
since. Senator Harlan is placed in a very
unpleasant position by the facts which
have already come to light, and Joseph
Fl. Barrett, Commissioner of the Pension
Office at the time the frauds originated,
will probably find an explanation
necessary. The Interior Department,
which now has control Of all the impor
tant facts in the case, continues to main
tain the greatest reserve in the matter