The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-02-20

The India1 Agents ao0 TrooesS
The Indian has no means Of know
ing how much in value or how many
presents Of any particular kind the
Government, the "Great Father - he
terms il, has sent him, For knowledge
on this point he must accept the state
meut Of the agent. The goods cent BY
the Government are generally those
which would most please IN Indians
fancy. The Indian trader generally
keeps goods OF . similar charsct'r,-
The trader 10 moe, frequently . partic-
ular friend OF the agent, often associated
with him in business, and In many in-
stances holds his position Of trader At
the instance OF the agent They are
always located near each other. The
trader 10 usually present at the distribu,
ton Of the annuities II the agent.
instead OF distributing 70 the Indians
all OF the goods intended for them by the
Government, only distributes one halt
and retains the other halt. who is to
the wiser, Not the Indian, de.
bauded though he may be. for he is is
norant OF how much is coming 10 him.
The word OF the agent is his only guide.
He may complain little. express soms
,isappointmen, ., the limited amount 1
presents, and intimate that the Great
Father" has delt out the &nnuities with
q spsrin, hand; but the agent explains
il by referring TO some depredatons
which he knows the tribe TO have been
guilty OF in times past; or IL he is not
aware OF any particular instance OF
guilt, he charges them generally with
having committed such acts, knowing
one can scarcely 20 smiss 10 accusing
q tribe Of occasionally staying . white
man, and ends up his charge by inform
ing them that the Great Father. learn
ing Of these little irregularities in their
conduct, and being panied greatly
thereat, felt com mpelled to reduce their
allowance Of blsnkets, sugar. coffee.
ETC., when at the same time the MISC
ing portion OF said allowance is SAFE
" secured in the storehouse OF the agent
near by. Well, but how can he enrich
himsel, in this manner 7 il may be ask
ed. By simply, and unseen by the lndi-
ans, transferring the unissued portion
OF the anndities from bis governs
ment storehouse TO the trading estab-
lishment OF his friend the trader. There
the boxes are uupscked and their con-
tents spread out Tor barter with the Inc
dams. The latter. in gratifying their
wants, are forced to purchase from the
trader at prices which are scores OF
times the value OF the article offered. |
have seen Indians dispose OF buffalo
robes to traders, which we're worth from
fifteen to twenty dollars each. and getin
return only from ten to twenty cupe OF
brown sugar the entire value OF which
did not exceed Two or three dollars. This
is one Of the many ways agents and ira.
ders have OF amassipg sudden wealth. l
have known the head chiefs OF tribe 10
rise in council in the presence Of 9th
er chiefs aud OF officers OF the army.
and accuse his agent, then present, OF
these or similar dishonest practices. 10
il TO be wondered at that the position OF
traders among the Indians 10 greatly
sought after by men determined 70 be-
come rich, but not particular ~ to the
msnner OF doing soI Or 10 IL to be
wondered at that army officers. who are
often made aware OF the injustice done
the Indian vet are powsrless to prvven,
il, and who trace many Of our dinicul.
ties with the Indians 70 those causes.
should urge the sbolishment oi . sys-
ten which has proven itsli 70 fruitful
in fraud and dishonest dealing toward
those whose interests il should be their
duty to protect -" Life on ne Ptains,
By General G.. A. Gutter in March Gal