The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-07-14
Letter From Prof Msrsh---Wrongs
Committed O ~ the Indians.

- AOA1 !"
Committed ou the Indians.
NEW YORK, July l3.-The Tribune
tomorrow will publish the following let
ter from Prof. Marsh, Of Yale College, to
President Grant:
SIR:-In the two interviews | had
with you on Indian affairs, | was i'm
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 US a private citizen, for
coming 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 investigate
the Indian affairs. The frauds
l observed were brought to my
knowledge by Red Cloud, who refused to
allow 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 been IN
formed by the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs of the appointment
of committee to investigate affairs at
Red Cloud Agency,and wasIinvited to lay
a statement OF the facts before them.
l am quite ready to do so whenever the
committee request it. | must decline,
however, to give the statement to the In
terror Department alone, for the follow
ing reasons:
No COnhde, ce I'm DelanO.
First-I have no confidence what
ever in the sincerity of the
Secretary of the Interior or Commits.
sioner Of Indian Affairs when they pub
licl y announce their wish and determina-
ton to correct the present abuses in the
Indian management, because | have
reason to know that they have long been
aware of these abuses, and have made no
sincere effort to reform them.
Seeond-In all my intercourse with
these two officials their object has
manifestly been to find not so much rs
what the frauds actually were as the ex-
tent of my information concerning them
so as to prevent, by every means in their
power, all publicity or exposure of them.
Third-The evidence that is now
in my possession reflects unfavor-
ably OH both Secretary Delano
and Commissioner Smith. For
these reasons, l have thought it best to
lay before you, to whom in accordance
with my promise to Red Cloud, l made
my first communication the accom-
panying statement in detail, in full con-
tidence that the evidence presented will
meet with the consideration its Importance
demands In the statement accompanying
this letter, | have given the results af my
investigation into the affairs of Red Cloud
agency, the largest and most important
in the west. These results clearly indi-
cate both
Misa ,nagoment and Fraud,
especially in the following particulars:
First-The agent, }. j. Savillc, is
wholly untitled for the position and guilty
of gross frauds upon the Indians in his
charge.
Second-The number of Indians
at this agency has been sys-
tematically overstated for purposes
which can only result in fraud. The
last issue of annuity goods which ] wit
messed was.a suspicious transaction and
in part fraudulent.
Fourth-Thr beef cattle given to the
Indians have been very Inferior
owing to tie systematic frauds practiced
by agents and beef contractors.
Fifth-The pork issued TO Indians dur
ing my visit, was not suitable for human
fare.
Sixth-The flour was very inferior, and
evidence of fraud in the article is very
conclusive.
Seventh-The sugar and coffee issued
were not good, although better than the
other supplies.
Eighth-The tobacco was rotten and of
little or no account.
Ninth-In consequence of frauds and
mismanagement, the Indians suffered
greatly during the past winter, for wood,
food and clothing.
Tenth-The contract for freight from
Cheyenne to Red Cloud agency, is fraud
ulent, us the true distance is
l45 miles, while the contractors
were paid for 2l2 miles.
| would especirlly call your attention to
the evidence of fraud in beef cattle as
presented in the accompanying state.
ment. This subject should be investiga-
ted with great care Us beef is the prln-
cipal article of food of the Sioux In
dians, and the frauds | observed
have caused great suffering among them,
as we'll as great pecuniary loss to the
Government This statement is pre-
pared and supported in all its essential
parts by the testimony of officers of the
army who were with me in my expedi-
ton, or at the Red Cloud Agency.
Among these officers are several person.
ally known to you, and are gentlemen OF
high character.
Should any part of my statement be
seriously questioned l trust you will
allow these gentlemen to be heard. 1t
all the commanding officers OF all the
posts near the Indian agencies, or other
equally trustworthy and disinterested
observers there, could likewise testify |
think it would be found that.
Have but Family Indicated the
Corruption
peryading In dian affairs. | have pur-
posely confined myself in this statement
to single agency, and mainly tothe time
Of my visit, without reference to much
other testimony which has come to me
incidentally in the prosecution of my
inquiries, showing frauds of equal magni-
tude at other points.
This corruption, which is constant
source of discomfort and hostility among
the Indians, is, in my judgment, a natural
result of the loose and irresponsible sys-
tenn of furnishing the Indians with goods
and supplies system that tends direct
" 10 invite fraud. do not believe that
but radical change in this re-
spect will prevent the continued demoral-
ization of the Indian service. You alone
have the will and power to destroy that
of bad men known as the
IndIan ring, who are debasing this ser
OF Of oil