The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-07-22
THE POOR INDIAN.

Letter OF Prof. Marsh 10 the President -
| The Charges OF Corruption In Indian
| Anatis--The Secretary OF tho Interior
| ArrRigned.
The New York Tribune publishes the
following letter from Prof. Marsh, of
Yale College, to President Grant:
Sir: In two interviews ! had with
you on Indian affairs, | was impressed
with your earnest desire to do justice to
the Indians, and with your broad and
philanthropic views on the whole In
dian question. This must be my ex.
cuse, as a private citizen, for coming to
you to lay before you statement of
wrongs committed on the Sioux In
dians, mainly under my own observa-
tion, during recent visit to their coun-
try My witt to this region was wholly
in the interest of science, with no in.
tention or wish to investigate Indian
affairs The frauds | observed were
brought to my knowledge by Rsd
Cloud, who refused to allow my party
to enter their lands until | had prom
ised to submit his complaints to You in
person. Since my interview with you
| have been informed by the commits,
sioner of Indian affairs of the appoint
mert of a commission to investigate the
affairs at Red Cloud agency, and was
invited to lay statement of the facts
before them. This am quite ready to
do whenever the commission request.
| must decline, however, to give nv
statement to the interior department
alone, for the following reasons: |. l
have no confidence whatever in the
secretary of the interior or commits
soiner of Indian affairs, when they
publicly announce their wish and de-
termination to correct the present
abuses in Indian management, because
1 have reason to know they have long
been aware of these abuses and have
made no sincere effort to reform them.
q In all my intercourse with these two
officials their object has been to find
ont, not so much what the frausls ac-
tually were, as the extent of my infor-
nation concerning them, so as to pre-
vent, by all means in their power, all
publicity or exposure OF them. B, The
evidence now in my possession reflects
uLfavorably on both Secretary Delano
and Commissioner Smith. For these
reasons | have thought it best to lay
before you, to whom, in accordance
with my promise to Red Cloud, / made
my fi'st communication of the accom-
panying statement in detail, in conf
dence that the evidence presented will
meet with the consideration its import
ance demands. In the statement which
accompanies this letter have given the
results of my investigation into the
affairs of the Red Cloud agency, the
largest and most important in the west.
These results clearly indicate gross mis-
management, especially in the following
particulars /. The agent, j. j.
Saville, is wholly untitled for his posi-
ton, and guilty of gross frauds upon
the Indians in his charge. 2. The
number of Indians at this agency has
been systematically overstated for pur-
poses which can only result in fraud.
3. The last issue of annuity goods
which | witnessed was suspicious
transaction, and part at least fraudu-
lent. 4. The beef cattle given the In
dians have been inferior, and, owing to
systematic frauds, ptacticed by the
agent at the beef contractors. 5. The
pork issued to Indians during my visit
was not suitable for human fare. 6.
The flour was very inferior, and evil
lence of fraud in this article was con-
elusive. 7. The sugar and coffee issued
we're not good, although better than
other supplies. 8. The tobacco OBJ
served was rotten aud of little or no use.
8. In consequence of fraud and mis-
management the Indians suffered greatly |
during the past winter for want of food
and clothing. 10. The contract for
freight from Cheyenne to Red Cloud
agency, was fraudulent, as the true dis
tance is one hundred and fifty miles,
while contractors were paid for 212.
Iwould especially call your attention
to the evidence of fraud in beef cattle,
as presented in tie accompanying state
ment. This subject investigated with
great care, as beef is the principal ar
ticle of food of the Sioux Indians, and
the frauds observed have caused great
pecuniary loss to the government. The
statement have prepared is supported
in all it's essential parts by the testimony
of officers of the army who were with me
in my expeditions, or at the Red Cloud
agency. Among these officers are sew
eral personally known to you and all
are gentlemen of high character. Should
any part of my statement be seriously
questioned I trust you will allow these
gentlemen to be heard. If the COM
m,nding officers of all posts near Indian
agencies or other equally trustworthy
and disinterested observers there could
likewise testify, think it would be
found that l have but family indicated
the corruption pervading Indian affairs.
l have purposely confined myself in
this statement to a single agency and
mainly TO the time of my 7isit, without
reference to much other testimony which
has come to me- incidentally in the pros
ecn,ion of my inquiries, showing frauds
of equal magnitude Mt other points.
This corruption, which is constant
source o. d,scontent snd hostility among
the !niiaus themselves, in mv ludg-
ment, is natural result of the present
loose and Irresponsible system of fur
nishrng the Iudians with goods and sup
plms-n system that tends directly to
inv, fraud do not believe that any
thing but radical change in this re-
spect will prevent continued demoraliza
ton of the Indian service. You alon'
have the will and the power to destro.
that combination OF bad men, known a
the Indian Ring, who are debasipg thi
service aud thwarting the efforts Of al
who endeavor to bring to full consuu
nation your noble policy # pesc-.
Very respectfully your obedient ser
want. O.C MARSH.
The letter is accompanied by lont
and interesting statement, corroborstine
points specified in the commun'ca'iol
to the president.