The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-05
Indian Agent Gibson Investigated
by Commissioners.
SPEECH OF JOSEPH PAW-NE-NO-PASHE.
Appeal Of the Indians to Great
Father Grant.
TAlIMAXY TRICKS IN THE INDIAN COUNTRY.

against lhuah agent blOSOn, OF the Usage IN
dams, arrived here to-day from Lawrence, Kansas
route TO Washington. They say they had two open
councils with the Indians lasting three days and gave
them an opportunity make all their statements
without being prompted ntimidatod by any person.
The Commissioners then sat court OF inquiry and
some forty white and Indians examined I'M
der oath regarding the matters under investigation
The Indians divided into two partes-one IN ia
OF and the other against Gbson-and both sides
were allowed bring their witnesses without
reserve. c. W. Blair OF Kansas aud Colonel
Bell Of the Cherokee Nation, acted
counsel for SIDE and the Paw ne no pashe,
Usage Indian and Chetopa the Chief Counsellor OF the
nation for the other The continued twelve
days evidence covering 800 pages Of foolscap
taken. The Commissioners VIII remain here until
Tuesday next 10 review the evidence and make up
report decline TO give any intimation what
their decision VIII be They complain of great injustice
done them BY false and perverted statements
the country through the press These statements are
said have been made by Kansas City and Leaven-
worth reporters who only attended court TWO days
while that body twelve and therefore heard but
small part of the evidence and that given on
Eibsonis side
JOSEPH w-xE-soPAsHE
The following is the speech OF Joseph Paw-ne-n no.
pashe, Governor of the osages delivered before the
Commissioners:-
In May last the Osages petition to the Great
Father asking him TO send them agent and ask
Ing that more of their money be placed the hands
Of Major Gibson and that he should be
Tor all the money that had been given To him for the
benefit Of this people. After this petition had been
sent to Great Father Agent GIBSON himself pre-
pared a petition in his favor and had
great number of signed to il; some
few are Indians who had right to sign It, but
the greater part were men women and children who
have nothing to do with public affairs and who did
not know what was in the petition they signing
signed through fear others for rewards that were
VIII m IN
Washington. When the Osages heard of this paper
Ihey prepared another petition IN the latter part OF
of the hands OF Agent Gibson, and asking him
believe anything he said Of them their affairs
have him removed from their country and have his
accounts properly examined.
The osages say that they glad that the Great
Father has at last heard their words and that he
has sent you here to look into their affairs and to
learn and report 10 HIM the truth that he know
what our troubles are and how 20 do justice twOud
take many days to tell you all about the troubles
have had with this agent Tor nearly every in this
nation has something To say You do not to hear
these long stores but we will tell OF the
sons we have for asking that more of money be
given TO this agent and why ask that he be sent
away at once and and good agent to u.s. so
that we can properly Investigate his accounts.
MISCHIEF
The Osages have always been governed by principal
chief, other chiefs councillors and head men These
selected by the Osages govern them and they
have always obeyed them These leading men hold
councils and decide the business of the nation and all
who belong to the nation have looked up their
rils and obeyed them No agent has lnterfered
with the authority OF chiefs disturbed their
Bells organized bands tried appoint chiefs
councillors until this came here to as our
agent But he has troubled all these things.
Little by little he has been troubling the affairs
of our nation more and more Year after wear
he gives US trouble, and each time he does
thing that is intended to divide councils make
chiefs aud head men have III will against each other
and TO make the Usage people have contempt for their
leading and to have respect only for Agent Gibson
He has got the six bands Of the nation divided into
eleven, and has himself made chiefs and council
lors He advised the habreeds draw their part Of
the national money and to separate themselves from
th.a naaFa a,fsa md gatI In
Them # they would ask il; but they refused do this
Then the agent had reported to the Osages that the
hafbreeds were trying to draw their money and go
away This created great trouble between the osages
and the half-breeds.
CONFLICT or AUTHORITY
The Osages have elected me their Governor; but the
told and sand publicly that he would not
Dgnise their Governor and that he intended
make another man Governor in my place. and told the
people that he was the true Governor and that they
must not obey me. He has done all this and much
10 bring affairs and leading into contempt, and
10 bring about bad feeling and confusion and Ill will
among the Osages and with the half breeds This is
not good for my people This man is the worst enemy
the Osages have had in their country. He
himself to have all the power in the nation and will
allow any be free lie has refused allow and
has tried prevent from sending petitions
Great Father. In half breed at work at
the agency when he signed a petition asking for our
old Catholic mission. When the agent found IL he
told the that he would discharge him. and that he
must 20 away from the agency at once He thus turned
him out Of his house, ana the man and his family
freezing to death before they could travel to hut
thirty miles from the agency He has done many other
want To do business honestly and openly for the Oages
that we all and understand what has been
done with our money, 50 that We can learn TO take
care Of our affairs, and know what have To
pect each year before II comes.
THE BLANK VOUCHER BUSINESS.
will tell you Of his actions When he is going
10 pay out any Of our money 10 men he has hired he
makes the men sign vouchers in blank If they ask
Tor the vouchers to be filled up that they may
what they are signing he refuses to have done, and
tes them he viii not pay them until the voucher in
have their vouchers filled up out it refused and
At last they had sign the blank before they could get
their pay
When he pays his hired men by check on the bank
The check IN almost every is TOR money than
ID actually due. After the indorses the check he
is PAID the exact amount that him and the bal
Rnce would be kept by the who would cash the
check He has sent false voucher to Washington for
rations furnished TO the Little Osages. In the
before the agent Alexander Bye 70 issue
Tations to the Little Osages. He gave them
about $3.50 worth, and was paid for IT,
but the agent made him sign a voucher for $3.50 before
lie would give him his pay The agent was authorized
10 pay each head of family 81 foot who would dig a
we'll The Indians did not dig any wells and the agent
hired white do the work. Vouchers and checks
made out In the names OF the Indians for whom
the wells were dug and signed by them and the white
who did the work were paid 81 70 per foot
RING TACTICS
He posted notice ut Hickory Station, on Wednes
sealed bids until the following Monday for break
ing 5000 acres Of prairie. There time for men
TO learn about this business and the contract was let 10
Mr. Kupcrs, Of Independence Kansas The agent was
TO furnish ali the pows, fifty yoke Of work oxen aud
MY yoke Ol steers Mt kupers suDet 10 other Ieh
nj 81 20 per acre and Of the he gave 50
yoke for breaking the steers. We believe that Mr..
Kupers gets So for blowing and $40 a
yoke for breaking the steers but agent won't let
US see this account OF Kupers But you can see u At
Washington.
WANTS SOME BACK PAY.
point out these cases that you may know that Glib
con Is not the be agent for the Osages and the
reason that We dislike him and Why ask that he be
sent away at have told you all that hc has
done that Is bad for find 1t all out until We
get good agent; but then viii find II out, and
want Great Father make this agent pay back
us the money lac has uniustly taken from nation
A RELIGIOUS DIFFICULTY.
We want you TO take petition OF 2Sth June 1875,
back with you, and hand II TO Great Father and tell
him what say in that petition. Tell him
that we have agreed In all treaties lsl5 that
should have Catholic schools and Catholic mission
aries, and that he will not find any OF them that
have agked for Quaker missionaries Quaker schools
md why shnuld We neYnr saw OuAknra NINTH