The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-07-20
Letter From Prof. Marsh. WrO ngs
- Committed on the Indians.

Letter From Prof. Marsh. WrO ngs
Committed on the Indians,
New York, July 13-The following
letter is from Prof Marsh, of Yale Col
lege, to President Grant: 81
SR:-In the two interviews l had
with you on Indian aff,irs, l was ind;
pressed with your earnest desire to do
justice to the Indians, and with your
broad and philanthropic views on the
whole Indian question. This must be
my excuse as private citizen, for COM
ing to you again to lay before you a.
statement of the wrongs committed on
the Sioux Indians, mainly under my
own observations during recent visit
to their country. My visit to their
country was wholly in the interest of
science, with no, intention or wish to in
vestigate the Indian affairs. The frauds
| observed we're brought to my knowl-
edge by Red Cloud, who refused to al
low any party to enter his lands until
had promised to submit his complaint
to you in person. Since my interview
with you upon this subject, have heen
informed by the Commissioner of In-
1ian Affairs of the appointment of a
committee to investigate affairs at Red
Cloud Agency, and was invited to lay
a statement of the facts before them,
am quite ready to do so whenever the
committee request it. l must decline,
however, TO give the statement to the
Interior Department alone, for the fol
lowing reasons: e
93.tir NO CONFIDENCE IN DELANo. 15
First-I have no confidence whatever
in, the sincerity of the Secretary Of the
Interior or Commissioner of Indian, AZ
fairs when they pub icly announce their
wish and determination to correct the
present abuses in the Indian manage
ments, because have reason to know
that they have long been aware of these
abuses, and have mace no sincere effort
to reform them. q.
Second-In all my intercourse with
these two officials their object has man
ifestly been to find not so much as what
the frauds actually were as the extent Of
my information concerning them 81 as
to prevent, by every means in their
power, all publicity or exposure, of
them ''' '''4 h.'s
Third-The evidence that is now in
my possession reflects unfavorably on
both Secretary Delano and Commission
er Smith. For these reasons, have
thought it best to lay before you, to
whom in accordance with my promise
to Red Cloud, made my first commu-
nication the accompanying statement in
detail, in full confidence that the evi.
dence presented will meet with the con.
sideration its Importance demands In
the statement accompanying this letter,
/ have given the results of my investi-
CATION into the affairs of Red Cloud
agency, the largest and most important
in the west. These results clearly indi
cate both -
MIsMANA CEMENT AND FRAUD,
especially in the following particulars
First--The agent, j. j. Savile, is
wholly untitled for the position and
guilty Of gross frauds upon the Indians
in his charge
Second-The number of Indians a,
this agency has been systematically
overstated for purposes which can only
result in fraud. The last issue of an
nuity goods which / witnessed was 6
suspicious transaction and in part fraud
ulent. @
Fourth-The beef cattle given to the
Indians have been very inferior, owine
ito the systematic frauds practiced BY
agents and beef contractors.
r Fifth-The pork issued to Indians
during my visit, was not suitable fol
Human fare. -
Sixth-The -four was very inferior
and evidence of fraud in the article il
livery conclusive.
,Seventh-The sugar and coffee ISSUED
were not good, although better than th'
other supplies.
f., Eighth-The tobacco was rotten and
of little or no account.
In consequence of frauds and mis-
managementthe Indians suffered great,
during the past winter, for wood, foot
and clothing.
Tenth-The contract for freight from
Cheyenne to Red Cloud agency,is fraud
ufent, as the true distance is 145 miles
while the contractors were paid for 81.
miles. would especially call your at
1 tention to the evidence of fraud in bee
cattle as presented in the accompanyin,
statement. This subject should be in
vestigated with great care as beef is tn
principal article of food of the Siou:
Indians, and the frauds observed hav
caused great suffering among them, a
well as great pecuniary loss to the Gov
ernment. This statement is prepare
and supported in all its essential part
by the testimony of officers of the al
my who were with me in my expedition
or at the Red Cloud Agency. Anon
these officers are several PERSONAL
known to you, and are gentlemen 9
high character. . 81 el
! Should any part of my statement b
seriously questioned l trust you will al
low these gentlemen to be heard. If Al
the commanding officers Of all the post
near the Indian agencies, or other equal
ly trustworthy and disinterested obser
/ vers there, could likewise testify, I thin
it would be found that 80
! I HAVE BUT FAMILY INDICATED THE COR
i RUPTION
pervading Indian affairs. I have pur
posely confined myself in this statemen
to single agency, and mainly to tn
time of my visit, without reference t.
j much other testimony which has come tt
me incidentally in the prosecution Of M
\ inquiries, showing frauds offequal magni
4 tude at other points. =
Z. This corruption, which is constan
r -