Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-02-04

The following letter was sent to
President Grant on Thursday by
William Welsh, ESQ, of this city.
PHILADELPHIA, January s, 1874.
To His Erceiiency, U. S. Grant
My DEAR Sra: Allow me to recall
TO your mind our first interview, q
few days after your inauguration,
when was acting as chairman OF a
committee comprising Judge Strong,
Hon. Eli X. Price, Mr.. George II.
Stuart, and others. We were drawn
to you by the following paragraph in
your inaugural address: "The proper
treatment Of the original occupants OF
this land, the Indians, is one deserv-
ing Of careful study. l will favor any
course towards them which tends to
their civilization, Christianization,
and ultimate citizenship" To aid
you In promoting this praisewor,hy
object, we rendered our cooperation
and that OF the large body of citizens
whom we represented. In the course
Of our friendly discussion, it was ad
mitted that frauds in tho Indian Office
and service had become chronic aud
difficult of cure.' We suggested as q
remedial measure, the appointment
by you, after procuring the authority
OF Congress, of small board Of un-
paid commissioners, men of tried in
tegrity, to have joint control with the
Secretary Of the Interior over all ap-
preparations for Indian service and
thus to lift this service above political
influences and other demorallizing ten.
denotes.
You, and the then Secretary of the
Interior, cordially assented to this pro.
Iposal, and Secretary Cox drafted the
first law that was enacted, thus "The
Board OF Commissioners is TO exercise
joint control with tho Interior De-
parlmeDt over the disbursement of
appropriations, &C."
You were pleased to appoint me on
that Indian Commission, and my COL
leagues elected me their chairman
Owing to influences from without and
from within the department, the
sources of which were carefully con-
cealed from that most excellent Sec
retary of the Interior, instead Of Civ.
ing the board the joint control indi-
Gated in the act Of Congress, it's pow
ers were limited TO that Of mere
council of advice. Having more
thorough knowledge than some of my
colleagues of the political power Of the
Indian Ring, and of the deep seated
malady in the Indian Office, and being
unwilling to assume responsibilities
without any power of control, / per.
emptorily resigned my commission,
at the same time piedging myself to
you that / would serve the cause as o
private citizen with equal zeal and
without cost Of any kind to the Gov
ernment. The propriety of my course
became manifest In 1871, when the
Indian Office was investigated by a
Congressional committee, and at this
time It is, in my judgment, still more
manifest.
Before ! refer to the present lamon.
table condition Of the Indian Office,
allow mo 10 thank you with all sin.
cerity for your invariable kindness 10
mo during the Hve years in which |
have, at much cost of time and money
co-operated with you in your noble
effort to save the remnant of our
American Indians, and thereby TO re
rove fearful stigma from the nation.
We all owe you debt of gratitude
tor taking Indian agencies from those
who ordinarily were using them as
party spoils and for transferring them
TO tho care Of religious bodies, who ex.
pend hundreds of thousands of dollars
annually in successful efforts TO civil.
ize and Christianizc Indians. Again,
when under authority of law you do.
prlved the Governors Of Territories of
their ex-ofiicio right 10 the superin.
tendcy of. Indian affairs, you eradi-
Gated one of the most prolific sources
OF the evils from which the Indian
service in our Territories and new
States is slowly recovering. As you
have been fully sustained in these and
other heroic acts, and us your Indian
policy is no longer experimental, the
present condition of the Indian Office
should not create any dependency,
for | feel sure that Congress and the
people will sustain you in applying n
thorough remedy
AZ our recent appointed interview
/ felt constrained TO inform you that
since the last Ictting Of contracts for
supplies powerful Indian Ring, CON-
prising men whom l named to you,
had been formed ,snd that in some un.
accountable way Il had acquired such
was expended for The rcljef Of these