The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-20
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
General Sherman on the Proper
Treatment of the Savages.
Personal Experience in the Indian Territory
The Army Should Have Charge Of the
Tribes-CitixenS in the Territories
Should Have Protection-Sound
Views Ably Expressed.

The following letter from General Sherman,
written to friend in Washington, will be read
with the deepest interest at the present mo-
ment:-
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES
WASHINGTON, D. c., April H. 1873 !
DEAR SIR have your letter OF this date, and
am unwilling in private letter to express my
opinions on all the questions you make.
The army has no ''policy" about Indians or any
thing else. 1t has no voice in Congress, but ac-
cepts the laws as enacted and the interpretation
thereof by the proper officials and executes them
with as much intelligence, fidelity and humanity as
any other body Of citizens. From the organization
OF the government up to 1850 the Indians and
Indian Bureau were under the War Department,
that nearly all the civilization and Christianza-
ton Of the Indians thus far accomplished occurred
under army supervision. To-day, in case an Indian
suffers wrong believe he will be more likely to
appeal to the commanding officer OF the nearest
military post than to his agent for In the one
he sees with his eyes the evidence OF force to
compel obedience, whereas in the other nothing Of
the kind. In like manner believe the annuities to
treaty Indians would reach the parties in interest
quite as surely through army ofncers as through
civilians. And when Indians have committed
depredations-as 10 very cOmmon-and the annui-
ties are chargeable with the amount OF damages,
such stoppages could more safely be made by com.
handing oflcer having soldiers at his back than by
agent afraid Of his liie-as too many Of them are
and have reason to be. The present Indian agents.
as class, are very good men; but they lack the
force, the power. which savages alone respect.
The existing policy, usually called the peace
policy, is to gradually assemble the wandering
tribes reservations, with boundaries clearly de-
fined, and then, through civilians TO instruct them
In agriculture and the ruder arts, and educate them
foy To 40 ,o,o~
objects. And further, when the Indians leave
their reservations to steal, murder and plumber,
they fall under the jurisdiction OF the army This
is the theoretical condition OF things but 1t would
require ten times our present army to make cor
don around the reservations, SO that murders are
done, the stealing OF cattle, horses, &c, perpe-
trated, and the Indians quickly escape TO their
reservations where the troops cannot follow them
that in fact these reservations help them in their
lucrative business ] am safe in saying that half
the horses and mules now owned 10y the Kiowas,
Comanches Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Sioux 6c.-all
treaty Indians, all at peace, with agencies and
annuities-have been stolen from the United states
or from citizens. have myself seen, at the Kiowa
and Comanche agency, and at several Of the Sioux
agencies, horses and mules branded U. 8. led up
to be packed with annuity goods, and never heard
OF an agent demanding the restitution OF one for
tnob TedSOu, anu tnOugn muIuerS are oil frequent
occurrence do not hear OF the murderers being
surrendered is required by the treaties. Again,
though the Sioux and Cheyennes are at peace, the
army has to send escorts with all trains and par
ties Of surveyors who 60 rightfully to work within
the borders OF such States as Kansas and Nebraska
as though actual war existed. All will venture
TO assert Is, that the army has much more din
cult task now than II we were actually at war, and
could anticipate depredations and follow the perpe-
traitors TO their very camps, as did In the case OF
tne kiowas two years ago. Then the Texas people
we're constantly complaining that the treaty In
uans were depredating on their property, killing
sneif people and taking refuge on their reserva-
tlons' would not believe it until went In per-
son' ana was actually near by when Satanic killed
seven poor teamsters In Texas one OF whom was
iound burned, tied at the wagon wheel and few
days after ne came to the agency at Fort Sill boast
ing OF the deed. With the approval OF the agent
MI Tatum, arrested him and two others ana sent
them to Texas for trial. Now am told that satanta
is to be turned loose again, although I believe he
has committed fifty murders, and has notorio.slv
violated every promise hitherto made.
No general rule win answer for the government
OF every tribe, but each must be treated according
to their conduct, and think the army officers arc
better qualified to judge than the average OF Cit,
Gems, though am by no means anxious that this
disagrceable duty should be imposed on rs. II the
Christian agents can better control the wild sav
ages. wish them all success but surely the white
people who venture into the wilderness to labor
and toll are entitled to the protection OF their lives