Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-08-16
THE INDIAN CONTROVERSY.
Gen. Governs Reply to Mr.. welsh's
Open Letter TO the President.

zen. Is. X COwen, Assistant Secretary of
the Interior, authorizes a statement con-
corning Mr.. William Welshs "Open letter
TO the President" in which he (Cowen)
denies connecting" the charge that Samuel
walker, clerk of the Board of Indian Com
mlSsloneIs. attempted TO commit suicide
while in the army, and asserts that ne has in
ms possession original documents from
reliable sources which fully Justify the ex-
preston nsed in regard TO Mr.. Walkers
WouLd lie also denies saying that Walker
OBTAINED his position through the Young
Mens Christian Association; that he was
dismissed nom the board of audit for
drunkenness; that he said anything about
the court martial order in Walkers case,
out that the order was obtained by the cor
respondent from the War department, and
mat he did not use the language attributed
TO him in regard to Mr.. Walkers dlsfigure-
ment. Gen. COwen further SAYS Mr.. Welsh
is IN error IN saying that Walker was &C
quilted by the court martial when in fact
the sentence Of that court was that. he sbe
reduced to the ranks and sentenced TO toe
confined at hard labor in charge of the guard
lor one month"; and this sentence was
approved and ordered 70 be carried
into effect, by General Sheridan. He lie
MES having ever said ought against the
honesty or Integrity of Mr.. Walker, anI
says the latter did not loan his Red Cloud
report to member OF the Bishop Hare com
mission, but TO Rev, s. ID. Human, and that
The Secretary of the Interior had no knowl-
at that time.
be denies that six weeks notice Of the com
mission was sent out to the contractors to
enable them to prepare for the investigation.
as Mr. Welsh charges, and asserts that the
commission was appointed thirty-one days
after the receipt OF Walkers report at the
department..
Referring TO the charges made by Mr.
Welsh against Indian Commissioned +. =.
Smith relative TO frauds in the sale of Ger
tain pine lands in Minnesota, when he
(Smith} was Indian agent, Gen. Coven saws
AT SMITHS request au investigating commit
tee vas appointed and Mr.. Welsh was sum
mOned but declined TO appear as a witness.
When This commission came to Washington
from 81. Paul Mr.. Welsh was again sum
moned but declined in a letter, in which he
again claimed TO be in possession of evil
ience which could not fail 10 convict Mr..
Smlth. Two members of the comm ission
then waited on MIR. Welsh in person. in
Philadelphia, when he again declined Ia
testify. The commission IN their report are
very severe on Mr.. Welsh for his refusal To
testify, and say that such aSper>ions
emanatlng from man less careless in his
method of handling facts, would be al
judged atrOciOuS." II this Investigation re-
suited IN an improper verdict of acquittal,
says Gen Cowen, then Mr.. Welsh, who
evidence OF Mr.. Smiths guilt, is clearly re-
sponsible for the failure aud has virtually
hindered investigation.
Extracts from the testimony of Mr.. Welsh
before the House Ind ian committee in \ nrjI
1874, are given, wherein it appears that III
response 10 questions as 10 whether he knew
vi any ITduu, uuIdIrneSS, or lrreguiaTlty IL
the matter of contracts for Indian supplies
or transportation for the fiscal years ending
June 80, 1873, and June 80, 1874, he replied
mat he had no knowledge only through the
Board OF Indian Commissioners, and that he
had no knowledge of any irregularities or
frauds In the making ofcontracts for supplies
and transportation between the government
or Its agents and the contracting parties
Here, again, says Gen. COwen, IL, as he
claims, he is in possession of conclusive evil
dence of the guilt of officials, by refusing To
testify, he has virtually screened those guilty
officials, and Is himself guilty OF obstructing
Investigation.
In reference TO the charge that Secretary
DelanO published a statement in his annual
report fOf 1s72, that stock of the North Pa
cinc railroad had been subscribed to the
amount OF 800, 900 900" Gen. COWen saws the
failroad reports as made by the Secretary
are merely a compilation of the reports of
the presidents OF the several land grant roads
made TO him under oath, according to law,
ane that in the above case the secretary used
he Identical language that was usetl by the
resident of the North Pacific road, uudar
"a n, III bis report TO the department.
Gen. COWeE closes his statement by cor
-ctlng an error fallen into by many, tns'
Mr.. Welsh was driven from the Board OF -
an commissioners by Secretary DelauO.
when the fact IS that Mr.. Welsh resi- sncl in
May, 1863, during the term OF Secretary Cox
ard has never SiUce been cOnnectei wirl the
board. Mr.. Delano was appointed Secretary
ia October, 1870, about eigh teen months after
Mr.. Welsh's resignation.