The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-07-23
THE POOR INDIAN.

|
ArraIgned,
The New York Tribune publishes the
following letter from Prof. Marsh, OF
Yale College, to President Grant
Sir: In two interviews I had with
you on Indian affairs, was impressed
with your earnest desire to do Justice to
the Indians, and with your broad aud
philanthrOpic views on the whole In
dian question. This must be nv ex-
cuse, as private citizen, for coming to
you to lay before you a statement of
wrongs committed on the Sioux In
dians, mainly under my own observa-
ton, during a recent visit to their coun-
| try. My vi it 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 Red
| Cloud, who refused to allow nv party
to enter their lands until [ had prom
ised to submit his complaints to you in
person. Since nv interview with you
1 have been informed by the commits
| siOner of Indian affairs of the appoint
ment of a commission to investigate the
affairs at Red Cloud agency, and was
invited to lay a statement of the facts
| before them. This I am quite ready to
| do whenever the commission request.
1 must decline, however, to give nv
statement to the interior department
| alone, for the following reasons: l. I
have no confidence whatever in the
| secretary of the interior or commits
| sOiner of Indian affairs, when they
| publicly annOunes their wish and de
| termination to correct the present
| abuses in Indian management, because
L have reason to know they have long
been aware of these abuses and have
made no sincere effort to reform them.
2 In all my intercourse with these two
officials their object has been to find
out, not so much what the frauds 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. 8. The
evidence now in my possession reflects
urfavorably on both Secretary Delano
and Commissioner Smith. For these
reasons L have thought it best to lay
before yOu, TO whom, in accordance
with nv promise to Red Cloud, made
my first 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 l. The agent, J. j.
SavilIe, is wholly untitled for his posi-
tion, 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 I witnessed was a suspicious
transaction, and part at least fTaudu-
lent. 4 The beef cattle given the In
dians have been inferior, and, owing to
systematic frauds, practiced 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
dence of fraud in this article was con-
elusive. z. The sugar and coffee issued
were not good, although better than
other supplies. 8. The tobacco OBJ
served was rotten aud of little or no use.
9. In consequence of fraud and mis-
management the Indians suffered greatly
during the past winter for want of food
and clothing. TO- The contract for
freight from Cheyenne to Red Cloud |
"
tanee 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 I investigated with
great care, as beef is the principal ar
ticle of food of the Sioux Indians, and
the fra1ds observed have caused great
pecunIarF loss to the government. The
statement [ have prepared Is supported
In all its osssntial 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 ali
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
manding officers of all posts near Indian
agencies or other equally trustworthy
and disinterested observers there could
likewise testify, I think it would be
found that I have but family indicated
the corruption pervading Indian affairs
1 have purposely confined myself in
this sta EN- Mt to a Tgte agency and
mainly 10 the time Of nv yisir, without
re- creme t. much other tes mouv which
has come 10 m incidentally IN ia" pros
ecurion # my inquiries. showing frauds
of equal N 4Pnitude at other points.
This corruption, which Is Il constant
source o discoutent and hos 'iiitY among
the IL iIsUs The .nselvss, in my judg-
ment, Is + natural result of tEe present
loose and ire ponsible system of fur
fishing the TDdisns with goods and sup
pl.ss-a sy sts m that t Dds directly TO
Iuvl fr ud ] do not believe that any
thu but radical change IN this re-
specJ will prevent continued demOTalIza'
tiuu Of the Indian service. You alone
have the will and the power to destroy
that combination of bad men, known as
the Indian Ring, who are debaslng this
service and thwarting the efforts of all
who endeavor TO brig TO full consum-
nation vour noble policy # peace.
Vrrv respectfully your obedient ser
want, " HlAhSh-
The letter is accompanied by long
and Interesting staten Mt. cDrrObOrsting
points specified IN the communication
TO the president