The New York herald., 1875-08-17
Assistant Secretary Governs Answer to
Mr.. WelSh'S Open Letter.
General Denial Of Any Attack on
Mr.. Walkers Character.
THE MAIN ISSUE UNTOUCHED.
Review Of Mr.. WelSh's Past Charges Against
the Interior Department.

of Mr. Walker against what he terms a '1ibellous
attack, 'concocted and published" by the Assistant
Secretary OF the Interior. He makes fair show OF
defence and II Mr. Walker be innocent OF the charge no
would cheerfuly apologize for the wrong
ut Mr. Walkers innocence. But Mr.. Welsh is
very much mistaken when he says that MI
Cowen ''concocted' the charge Of attempted sui
eide The latter has in his possession original docu
ments from reliable sources which fully justified the
expression used in regard to Mr. Walkers wound, and
the same charge has been made foIer occasions by
other parties in print Nj. Welsh has made several
other mistakes in regard to the publication referred to-
For instance
FGst-Mr. Cowen never said that Mr. Walker had OBJ
tanned his position through the influence Of the Young
Mems Christian Association, and never heard it said
that he had until the publication referred to.
Second-Mr. Cowen never said that ''the methods
adopted by Walker during his examination and his
of the report afterward such to his dis
mssa from the service at the time" This is the Ian
guage OF the reporters and was not justified by any
thing Mr. Cowen said.
Tird-Mr. Cowen never said that Mr.. Walker was
discharged from the Board of Audit for drunkenness,
nor anything that would justify such charge
FoWth-Mr Cowen said nothing whatever about the
court martial order, and Mr. Welsh will see that the
correspondent that he obtained that order from the
War Department.
Fitth-Mr Cowen did not use the language attributed
to him by Mr. Welsh, as published in the Euening BuL
letin, in regard TO Mr. Walkers disagreement
Sirut-Mr Welsh is in in saying that Mr..
Walker was honorably acquitted by tho court martial
The sentence Of that court that he be reduced TO
the ranks and sentenced to be confined at hard labor
charge OF the guard for one month"; and this sentence
was approved and ordered to be carried into effect by
General Sheridan.
SecenH-Mr. Cowen never said aught against the hon
esty or integrity Of Mr. Walker but does say that
he is exceedingly competent and efficient clerk and
excellent accountant. and that he never any
thing improper lndecorons in his conduct Mr. Cowen
has desire intention to do injustice to Mr. Walker,
but is willing to accord him the full credit to which he
is entitled.
EighM-Mr Walker did not loan his Red Cloud re-
port 10 member Of the Bishop Hare Commission, as
Mr. Welsh says The gentleman to whom he loaned IL
(Rcv s d. Hinman) did not then know that he would
be member OF that commission nor was the appoint
ment of any such commission contemplated ut that
time, as the Secretary did not then know of the
Walker investigation report, which the basis Of
the Bishop Hare investigation Mr.. Walker therefore,
gave copy OF confidential report 10 an outside party,
the request of Mr.. Welsh another outside party,
when the Secretary of the Interior was not advised Of
the existence OF such document all OF which he doubt
less had right do for Mr.. Welsh insists that he is
honorable man.
NiaM-Six weeks notice of the coming of the com
mission not sent out to the contractors to enable
them to prepare for the investigations Mr. Welsh
charges But ten days elapsed between the receipt Of
Walkers report by the department and the appoint
ment of the commission The commission met ut the
Red Cloud Agency March 16 1874 exactly three weeks
after their appointment and but thrtyone days alter
the receipt OF Walkers report at the department
But Us the antecedents OF Mr.. Walker have
nection or bearing upon the truth falsity of the
charges against the department is much to be regret
ted that he referred to- and for the purpose OF
eliminating him entirely from the controversy and get
ting down to the real merits of the case Mr. Cowen
willing to accept Mr.. Wcshs defence a conclusive
vindication of Mr.. Walker. And now in regard to Mr.
Weshs method of making charges and his uniform fail
to sustain them when offered the opportunity do
SO, the following facts are submitted
STATEMENT HxcTs
In the fall of 1878 charges made against CommiS
soncr E. T. Smith of frauds IN the sale OF certain pine
lands in Minnesota while he was Indian agent AT
Mr. Smiths request the Secretary of the Interior ap-
pointed a commission to investigate those charges.
The personnel Of the commission was not objected
TO by Mr. Welsh, who, account of his assertion
that he had the most conclusive evidence of the guilt
OF Mr. smith was regarded Us very important witness.
The sessions OF the Board were held In ST. Paul. MINI,
because the witnesses generally resided in that State
Mr. Welsh was summoned 10 appear and give testimony
before that commission, ut ST. Paul. but declined.
Having finished their abors in Minnesota the commits
sion came to Washington and again summoned Mr..
Welsh TO appear and testify. He again declined in
letter in which he again claimed to be in possession of
evidence which could not fail to convict Mr. Smith.
Two members of the commission then waited Mr..
Welsh in person, in Philadelphia, when he again de-
cned 10 testify. The commission, in their report,
make use OF the following language in regard to Mr..
Weshs course
coxxIrTEEs REPORT
this city requesting his attendance here Witness he has
replied oy letter h hereto rec attached ne9,ns printed letter
which he has printed the letter above mentioned Of his
Ss sicn '''S 'H"se' 'e0'' 'D0 eo"'i''-
Supposn possible that Mr. Welsh did not properly ap
precate the construction that might be placed upon
documents and in order to afford him every facility
sion it decrmned that two Of our number should
s the % des9e re- Of ts an S ntees % which
Of the material and important documents and other
Of his furnishing i was urged & upon ~. Welsh and
justly withhold evidence which his us insisted
would if placed possession compel .crimnae
% aud seemed ] nc @ of the = gross in
based that the accused might have the opportunity Of
was supported to the crmina as he deserved
charges not only against smith but other officials in re.
gard TO whom he may entertain suspicion without regard
Welsh with as little reluctance hesitation If he
@ ~ sb rin ant,p w'f & rno puone n
less careless in his method Of handling facts would be
But have thought it doubtful whether under the
cumsances detailed IN the evidence, they Illustrate Mr.
wess mental peculiarites his conduct should be thus
seriously regarded and yo L seems 70 us that he and his
nexensabie practice may IN the judgement Of the men who
h .%etI be ha, N @ d ,S wh bIass @
tender be unable to withstand their poison
II this investigation resulted in an improper verdict
Of acquitta then Mr. Welsh who claims to have in his
possession conclusive evidence of Mr.. Smiths guilt is
clearly responsible for the failure and has virtually
hindered investigation But this is not the only in
which Mr Welsh failed TO give the proofof tho charges
he had made against the Indian O1ce. The Standing
Committee Indian Affairs of the House, al the
first session OF the Forty third Congress, charged
with the investigation OF frauds In the Indian
ONCE Mr Welsh had then been indulging in s'open
letters to the President" and supposed be in
possession Of valuable information in regard the In
dian business He was summoned before the commit
tee aud the following is his testimony as taken from
the official report OF the committee
STATEMENT OP MR.. WELSH.
wAsnNGroS. ID. G., April 2 1874
Mr. William Welsh, Of Phldelphia appeared before the
committee, and on ahrmathn made the following state
ment:-
reside In Philadelphia Nm merchant Ny age sixty
six
by the Chairman-Q DO ou know of any fraud unfair
irreguarty Ia the matter Of for Indian
supplies transportation iO the fiscal ending
1873 and june 80 1874 fraud uniness irreg
uarity In the execution any such tending 10
fraud unfaness irrguarty In the making tereoY
| A. have knowledge Of ontracts rregularly made nv
knowledge relates contrgts for supplies; contracts
transportation have knowledge only through Board Of
Indian Commissioner mt personally by irregularity
mean without notice t Board Of Indian
without advertising h other public notice that indi
Gated in the law meau.hat kind Of irregularity
BY Mr llarrsQ The question Is whether know Of any
fraud unarness, irrcnlary in the con.
tracts tending show fraud unairness rreQuarlty In
making OF them answer, that outside OF that de-
rived from the Board Oflndan Commissioners have no
knowledge on that subjec
by Mr. kchmond-Q Do know Of any Irregularities or
frauds IN the making of ontracts for supplies and
ton between the government or s agents and the
ing partiesy A. No, sr;I have no knowledge.
Adjournment.
Here again, IT, as he lams he is possession of con-
elusive evidence of t quit OF officials, by refusing 10
testify he has viruaG screened those guilty officials
LLnl.nIL