, 1874-07-07
MIs. DELAN0 AND THE INDIAN CON-.
MISSIONERS.


Constant Endcnvurs to shield I8cc9
hnl Flour COntrnCt0rs--ljndcrI
Atthclts On tlse Agents OF tho Guns
lMlssiOsf.
TO The Editor Of the Nep Torl Tribune:
Sll: Tho ca1lsoH OF tho resignation OF tha
si1 original members Of tho Board Of 1ndiau
Commissioners do not acom to 10 gouorally ur-
dorstood. The Board hnving had abundant ox-
poronce # tho hopelessnesa Of affecting any
se oe t'GsH ba5 h.s r. tho 7 inan , pres
control OF tie interior Department. do
sired, first, to effect = separation OF tho
former from tho 1attor, and then to tender their
rostgnations to tho President. Their theory was
Agriculture ,lndepopdout, and IN charge Of q
mali OF high character. to he selected by tbs
President, NTH inspectors to keep atrict s,1-
felYlBion over the agonta nominated by the TO-
hKions bodies, tho BorWces Of The IntiAn Com
mlsaiouola would no longer DO necdod. Control
over the lndian Bureau was tho one thing Of all
othora TINT thoy did not desiro aud would not
ansnmo, It Was an invarlablo rule OF tho Board
not 10 nominate any one for Office or to influ-
enco appoint1nentH, aud 1t will DO remembered
TINT alr. Drnnot declined to accept tho position
OF Commissioner Of Indian Affairs, when it was
tondered to him by tho prcsidont.
oa.;nst an9 charses nade before conrets
tractor and had no connection with my report.
which did not deal With tue Commissioner. OK
copt In tho casca of NIcCann's transportation
anu Dodgo's corn contracts, Of both Of Which
frauds there ie overwhelming evidunee. There
Tore, my report had nothing to do with tho resg-
nation of Mr. Brnnot and bis colleagues. It ia
fair to presume that tho gentlemen who signed
tie letter OF resignation knew much boltor than
any ono else what their reasons were, and it ia
but simple Justice to men Of the Lighost integ-
rity to aecept their statement Of tleir own rea-
sons Had they been 30 disposed they could
have published a latter much longer than their
annual report full Of evidences Of their efforts
80 check fraud, and Of their failure, owing to
tue active hostility Of tho Interior Department;
put thoy wore content simply to warn tho Presi-
dent Tint all was not well, and to point out the
responsibility Of tho Secretary of tho Iuterior
Tor the present condition OF aifairs.
, a. a. ch'et Clerk and at times Acting sscretury,
have boon intimately acquainted with all tho
transactions Of tho Board with the Interior De-
partmeut Tor throo years, and know whereof Z.
speak when say that nothing but true nililan-
thropy and foEEotfnlncBs Of self, in their desire
to sorve tho Indiana, the President and their
country, could have induced them to submit for
one-half that period to the official discourtosy
they encountered, as we'll as tile attempted as
sumption OF authority over them by tho Secro-
tary OF tho 1nterior aud lia ntorn,edd!ipce With
their organization His poHltivo HOSTILITY, both
official aud porsonal, wore manifesto Whenever
the members felt it to be thoir duty to disapproye
1obbiug-contracte and fraudulent accounts. They
Aavo also boon msrepresontod to members Of
hear and repeat the tale told to them IN the Into
rior Department. This Department also condo-
seconded to assail tie officers Of too Commission
as soon as their experience in Indian afrairs made
them valuable atts to tue Board in carrying out
tho letter aud spirit Of the various acts OF Con
gress creating aud continuing it. Mr.. Vincent
Colyor, than whom no more singlo-ninded or
honest public servant ever cxistod, was driven
from bis post Of Executive Oticor OF the Board
by Secretary Dolano because he WAS coustnut
and tearless III his n,taoxs on tho corrupt prac-
tices Of tho Iudtan Ring. AIr. Thomas K Cree,
the last Secretary, was undor tho ban OF tho Do
pArtnlont and his dismissal asked for because Of
His activity in uleafthing fraudulent accounts
for 1uaian delegations visiting Washington, aud
discovering TINT money was paid for immoral pur-
poses, and R!so because he had become thoronghy
acquainted ~ih the devices Of tho present Hing,
and consistently exposed them. + was also as
Wllotstono agencies, because discovered tho
grossost f.auCs aud 60 reported to tho Board,
The Secretary OF The interior bimBelf, attor /
had exposed the frauds OF lis boef contractor,
mo, so!.lv with view Of destroying the vaiue Of
my Testimony. This can be proyod Ho mada
private statements to members of tho Doard
which ho !t, dare not put on paper. Ho obtained
aiurroptit!ousy ono at my private letters and had
It copied md distributed to tho tnembcrs
OF tue Board, hoping to excite Il feeling that
would drive me away. But in this ho tailed !
lgnomfniouBly. All these efforts could have
had only ono. effect, II successful, aud That |
was to Bave his friends. the beef atl tlour con-
tractors from tho efects OF a report whici, d. |
rcctiy implicated them in doiratiirg the Indi- |
ans and tho Government. alr. Dt,lnot WAS |
alwavs under lire, aud do not think Mr.. Do |
lano will unwfilingly mako public his interesting |
with him und witt, other moms
bors Of the Executive aud Purchasing Commit
toes.
Tleao evidences Of his hoatllity to the Board !
aud its officers, its aims and purposes, while tho
ling OF plundsring contractors vpro opauly altlod
aud sympathized with, dygusted the board and |
cauHnd the,n to res.En. as they wclo powcrlees
10 render tho BorYtcoa the country expected of |
.hoM. HAM1,r1, Ws1,Ern.
Lutte Clcrk Of tho Board OF Indtau Commissioners
pHlLApELPAtA, pa, juno 70, 1871