New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-23
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
ANTIQUITY OF OUR INDIAN POLICY.

ANTIQUITY OF OUR INDIAN POLICY.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The plea of The Independent, quoted
in THE TRIBUNE the LIST inst III favor OF maintaining
the tribal character Of Indians, is which has been
made on behalf of every wrong that ever has existed
Antiquity the fortress in which every EVIL entfencnes
ITSELF Only few years ago the friends Of southern
Slavery maintained il on the ground that two hundred
years OF legislation had sanctioned and sanctined IT,;
that it was guaranteed by the Constitution, "solemny
affirmed by the Supreme Court OF the United States
and, moreover, originally ordained by Heaven. Com
pared to ts pretentons, the claim set mp for It's twin
sister by The Independent is undoubtedly modest
"Neary a century of intercourse" With the Indians'
"four hundred treaties" affirmation by the supreme
Court and Incidental appearance in the Constitution
all combined, do not very formidable to any ono
familiar with the details Of storlhng the older and
stronger Notifications of that system Of oppression
whose epitaph was written years ago.
To this Christian nation UNFOLDING by the strong
arm OF law what it seeks destroy by the mild voice
Of persuasion, might well make all the world wonder
Folks used 10 tell US that Slavery Divine institu-
tion which the spread OF the Gospel would overthrow
in due time and Informed that u Is sacred'
national duty to maintain the independent national or
ganzatOn OF Indian tribes, and solemn Christian o.
LEGATION to overthrow them by missionary effort! Every
converted Indian Is per force taken Of the tribal or
eanzation which and under the laws and control u
which the practice of Christian virtues is simply %
possible until majority OF the tribe is converted d
revOluOnizod yet 1t IS Christian quty 90 nalHI;.n
these distractions 20 the progress Of Christianity fof
"nearly century" this nation has supplied itself witn
an army, and enabled him to maintain az uAsea5inS
war against It. II has furnished him with arms sten-
ance, and all munitions OF war; ana tAeh iOuIAl N' 81.
the greatest possible disadvantage &C. tsc For hel
a century 1t mas diligently cultivated ndlan frauds aai
Zo=oni0, Pa, Aug. IL, 1873 JASr c. SwIssIIELM
CRIPPLED CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
To the Editor Of The TFt6UAe.
illt oil frt
Commissioner stern's letter. wherein he proposes plan
for making the private charities OF this city Of for
the relief OF the INDECENT and sick From many ye.r
observation of the system Of charitable relief Of this
city, can freely approve the wisdom Of hE Serns
plan. But is it not strange that with all the praise
accorded to the charities under private direction and IN
the face Of the great work they accomplish, reo IN
authorities have the 10 expect these nsttG-
tions TO aid the city without the cy granting them
the smallest ptance For the fist time in many years
the city fails this year 10 extend the usual AID 20 orr
hospitals and dspensaries What right has he city 70
expect OF these charities aid in caring Tor the army Of
helpless sick and poorl II the pouuG-io0lsh policy 10
TO prevail let these charities abide BY IT, ard decline
step outside of their customary routine or FtLc lr:
StprIAYoud impose upon thce chaflucS aCNi!ou
labor au. enlarged expenditure tmoney Wen EnoW-
ing that these private institutions 90 te wore OF Ie M
more thoroughly ana tar more ec0Aonlc"l Tan 20
city, with the additional adyantaee o. SAVING the Ge-
of cha rity feels when forced 70 become ruOc paupsr
need 90 no further tEan the columns on ls IIblNE
for confirmation OF these facs py Sti'cs NOt tlcu
I'm tie preedest Gays OF the ete corrupt rcgn Wc,c tao
charities so overlooked as al present ana as coast.
0uence we ind them all more OF less crippled. Many OK
me dispensarics beginning 20 Ccn.gc their NsIt-
INC physlciaus, ard ia many more VIC md necessary
medeines stricken from the lists account OF Lack OK
funds As a former officer Of a prominent charity,
know whereof speak. 'NAhIIl.
Nec. York, Aug. IA, 1873.
THE TAX COMMISSIONS METHOD.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: In your edition of this day ! notice
that the Commissioners OF Taxes and Assessments eG-
deayor 10 defend themselves and employees from tho
charges made by numerous and responsible taxpayers
of corrupt as well unjust assessments IL notice
able feature their report that they totally ignore all
reference 10 the startling evidence adducod by tho
Supervisors Committee that while smith and
Brown may own adjoining houses similar as respects
appearance and value yet smith asSsSs. i s %
5000 and Browns $4,000. rather mover method OF
eGn,lig,tinn The Books Record IN the Tax Depart
ment are open by law for correction anu REVISION ts1n
the q Monday in January OF eaeh year, un'' .no
iaSt dav Of APRIL Then, according 10 Mr..
Andrews the Commissioners proceed 10 compare
Tho o,cal assessment with the owners valuation aud
exercise their Judgment Ia deeiag De'ween tnS t"o
~ Thy Commissioners did not revise or correct tue
alnaton upon real estate for 1873, and that the new
p,nrd composed OF Messrs Wheeler Andrews, ana
can be round IN their Endorsement upon every Que OF tho
Tse applications for reduction OF assessments received
m the oce for the year 1873 In the face OF TINS fact 6
d, certainly surprising that Messrs. Wheeler and Mon
Ion have the oontery ~ deny all responsibility Ia SAID
assessments forgetting that their signatures are at
taehed each aud all Of the LAG applications on he In
their office. JCsylFIER.
Nee lork, Aug. 70, 1878.
Another American firm comes in for its
.f |lt Tr az 4