New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-30
OUR INDIAN SERVICE.
WAYNE MAC vEAGH DECLINES.

MORE TROUBLr IN FILLING THE INDIAN COMMITS
sIoN-A CARD FROM Mr.. MAC vEAGH-un VIM
DICTATES THE PURITY or THE PRESIDENTS PCR-
POSES AS TO INDIAN AFFAIRS.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The kind manner in which you have for the
second time, alluded to the selection by the Pres
dent vi myself in connection with Senator'S Morrill,
and Howe to investigate affairs at the Red Cloud
Indian Agency, induces me to ask in your
columns for brief statement in reference to it.
Upon my return here from Philadelphia on the
evening of the 22d inst, found the letter of the
President awaiting me. The next morning waited
upon him aud confessed 10 him my wish that
some other person should be selected in my
place, but in Difference to the desire he manifested
that | should consent to go, | agreed to
consider the matter more fully. That
evening l wrote him that oil my subse-
quent reflection had only served to confirm me in
my first opinion and that it world he impossible for
me to accept the position. acted thus promptly in
the hope that my letter would reach him before his
departure for West Point, and thus prevent any
public announcement that the position had been ten
dcrcd to me. Many reasons contributed To tho
conclusion which l reached; and those who know
me will believe that would not have cndeavored to
shift thankless and disagree, able public duty to the
shoulders of some public-Sprited citizen unless
] could decline it upon grounds entirely consistent
with my sclf-resprct.
II il simple Justice to the President however. to
remember his conduct with reference TO the Indian
Agrnrcs-a Justice which surely those who, like
myself, have felt free TO crticise different acts Of
lis administrations ought not 20 deny him. From
the close Of the war until to-day he has
constantly striyen to relieve them from
the temptations which under our present
evil system beset the other branches of
the Civil Service. AS General of the Army he
earnestly recommended the transfer of the Indian
Bureau to the War Department, which would have
fenced it about with the great securities Of perua-
ncnt tenure, an adequate compensation, and the
traditions If an honorable profession. Though
fGiclin cndeavor, a. he became President
h attempted 10 reach the same result blythe Indirect
method of appointing officers of the army to he In
dian agent. Congress promptly thwartcd this
effort 10y providing that any Officer accepting such
appointment should be deemed to have resigned
bis commission. As Il last resort the President then
asked the principal religious denominations of the
country to take charge OF the different Indlan
agencies and to recommend TO him proper and worthy
members of their respective churches for Indian
agents. The gentlemen thus recommended were
promptly appointed; and it is the result of this
method Of selection which is, partially at least, upon
trial to-day.
For one 1 do not believe il furnishes satsfac-
tory guarantees of integrity either the Depart
nient OF refOrIucd Civil Service would atford
but | do believe it to be better than
the old method of allowing appointments
and removals To depend upon the pleasure OF
senator or Congressman. 1t does seem to me, there
fore, that all faIr-mindrd men, however differing
from him in other respects ought to agree i'll giving
credit to the President for his persistent efforts to
improve the relations of the Indian Agencies to the
National Government.
Sincerely yours, WAYNE MACNEAGH
Long Bronch " j., July 30. 1875.