The Benton record., 1875-03-01
Correspondence.


the RECORD of the 1st ultimo will not be
answered in the right spirit, if at all, |
have looked over the reports Of agencies
appended to the report OF the Commits
sioner of Indian affairs, for 1874. The
majority of the reports for Montana are
creditable to the agents, their charge,
and those whose interest lay that way.
The report of Agent Anderson is very
good specimen of what an honest Indian
agents report should be, and the sug-
gestions contained therein, If conformed
to or carried out, would prove valuable
towards settling the Indian question,
what those specially concerned seemingly
desire to eyade at present. The report OF
Agent Fanton is suggestive Of that gen
tleman's manner-shOrt and sweet. One
report stands alone in its prejudice and
willful errors, signed, r. E. May. IN
dian agents are expected to render cor
rect statement, and not mislead their
chief by forwarding the heresay Of every
Tom, Dick, and Harry whose interest is
best served in misleading the public on
this vexed question. Many of your read
ers are not familiar with the report of K.
F. Nav. AS it would be almost too tedi-
GUS to deal with it in full, a few extracts
may suffice to give them an insight into
this valuable document:
For several years the two former
lBlackfeet and Bloods) have ranged
across the line, none of the Blackfeet
coming here, occasionally few Of the
Bloods. The condition of the Blackfeet
and Bloods, Gs TheGr, is deplorable. They
are living in country where there is no
law except that which is administered
!, BY bloodthirsty wolfers and whisky sell
lers. Both Of these tribes, | am conyln-
ced, could easily be induced to occupy
in part this reserve and come to the agen-
ey, If the appropriations were large
enough to offer them greater induce
ments.."
We are Informed that the Blaekfeet
number about 3, 900. Appropriation IS
made for this agency, as we understand,
TO furnish annuities to about $500; out
side Of the Piegans, whose actual count
does not number over 2, 900, only few
stray Indians have any intercourse with
the agency. Where or to whom are the
annuities issued2 This is an open ques-
tion, and is very likely to remain 50.
Now, according to the report, the Indians
are falling away-strong stuff is killing
them off. For what or whom, then, does
he require larger appropriation? As
the gentleman has been cut off from
his share of the pie, he may now acknoWl-
edge his mistake. Did you ever hear OF
an army officer forwarding an account OF
the condition of his command or charge
on they say?n No, sir! But here we
have the gallant Col. May not only re-
norting the condition of his command on
hearsay, but adding indirectly an insult
to whom? to the very men who in their
present enterprise are the protectors OF
onr houses and our lives. Were 1t not
for the men whom May designates as
bloodthirsty, the present crop along
this end would soon thin out; were it not
for these men, the Sun River and other
xtyyalleys would feel the effects OF Indian
intercourse and outrage, and would soon
| form its own laws, especially when the
government. influenced by the Rings,
\ failed toprotect them. But what strikes
us rather. strangely in this connection, IS
that May IS the only agent that reports
IA this strain. and that until after he be-
gan his treacherous line Of conduct, we
never heard of such accounts. Not be
ing in the confidence Of Wolfers and
whisky sellers, it cannot be said that my
remarks are of an ex-parte nature; and /
do sav that more of the characteristics Of
d gentleman are to be found II any one
of these people whom ! have ever known,
than could be discovered through micro
aconic observation iii the person who
naIigns them in this manner -ex-Agent
May.
1.-THE Piegans are in frequent inter-
course with the agency, and their unl-