The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-03

that survey or General Babcock drew 10 the
contract for the payment " this sum, and that
tho money was sent to HIN aud not to Athy.
On or about the 9Th of September, 1874, Durfoo
A Peck, represented by John II. Charles, were
removed as traders from the Cheyenne agency
by the appointment OF George ". Felt, the or
der Tor whose appointment was made by the
President personally. at the instance Of Orvll
L. Grant. In the summer Of 1874 Durfeo & Peck
were removed from the Standing Rock Indian
agency py the appointment Of j. H. Casseloeiry
OF Philadelphia, Oryil l.. Grant being his
partner
From the foregoing narrative IL appears that
by the summer OF 1874 this ere test trading firm
post. and financial ruin stared them IN the face.
Tnev oil understood that some sinister innu-
snoe was working their destruction, aud, to save
something from the wreck and to secure their
chief creditor, they transferred to him, Mr.John
w. Charles, one Of the Oldest and most repu-
all their interest In these several army and trad
ing posts. The act of July 20, 1896, prescribes
that
Any Loyal person, citizen Of the United states, Of
scot moral character. shall be permitted 60 rsde with
iny e nS s oSo hsn ave- 20 s
thousand dollars with a. least two good suretes 70 9e
which such per on propose, trade, b. the United
States District Judge or District Aorncl Tor he eis'
CONDITIONED that such viii faithfully observe az
sSa ua sSSS s' Ea P TIC "%sa
s,at y0p ae se sas page 81. ecoa s
In obedience TO the provisions OF this act, Mr..
Charles made immediate application 90 tho In
dian Department, through tho several agents,
Tor license to trade at Cheyenne, Standing Rock,
Fort Berthod, Fort Peck, Fort Belknap, and
Fort Turney, and fled the requisite bond 10
each case. Tho agent at Cheyenne at once &C.
cepted his application, and the Department OF
,he Interior approved Y and sent 1t back How
President IN September, 1874, has been shown.
For some reason MIR. Charles was denied and
other posts. He besleeed the Indian Depart
mont by letters regarding tho matter, but ro.
ceiyed no reply. lie came To Washington, called
on the Commissioners, inquired why his letters
were not answered; he asked IN he was not en-
Titled to licenses, aud why they were n OF granted.
The Commissioner endeavored to evade, but az
last replied, "Wel, you understand that as well
Ms do. SO far a. am concerned would grant
you a license" That was all the explanation he
now THE PRESIDENT FIXED 1T.
In view OF the imperative terms of the law, In
view of she fact that Mr.. Charles had complied
with Its every provision, and In view OF the fixed
determination OF the Commissioner to disobey
It's provisions, IL will be instructive to Inquire
into the actual cause which defeated Mr..
Charles's application and ignored his absolute
right. Upon his arrival In Washington, Mr.:
Charles called upon the President and handed
him a letter, OF which the following Is a copy:
wAsHtsoroS. d. c.. =, 1877
compel me 10 trouble YOU WITH the
ject matter Of this letter. only do so because all 10 at
your ' @ the Pfs.Ssus and SoSsrc.. are Ss
Ss IN. e .s y SG,c i0
licenses to establish trading posts at certain points
purchased stocks Of g9oas erected or purchased the
psss.a sao "a, asd p,sPsd .GI
charge having been prefsrred ssain't me- my license.
right 20 trade on The river The law noyhsre co1,e%
and am Wiling 10 sadrsW ron aSat
try and give the trade, provided that Mr Grant viii
hand VET Ssroe upon The prices Wherever We can,
ana 10 esye the priees Of al things upon which We can
| To such an arrangement was and am willing to
agree, aud to break business and Withdraw from
trade in that country upon any basis that wall not IN
IL Mr Grant, coming In with exclusive power, and
mstet OF fairness and Justice You viii order the sec
OF tue 9sr g. s ear SH. ses ON aS
and allow me to carry on my business Ia falr aud on
| servant JoHs II. CnARLKs
This letter was presented to the Presiden,
| about tue LIST Of December. 1874. The testimony
| Of Mr. Charles regarding the presentation OF the
letter, and It's effect aud results, will be nstruc-
| tive. 1t Is as follows:
Q.-Did you write that letter. Al did, sir.
QYou sent II to the President oi the United states
Any Impression IL that handed 1t TO the President
yoa ca The s1,enS * q the
,S No yoa r. ne
ySu Iond snd Te T 2, sS9a nos
Mr. yoy ss ,ss p:; ssS s .,
A.-Yes SIR Senator Allison was present when the IN
qSwss! dIa ths President .ayr A. Well. he said he
AZ 81 9 Ss a a ,ns a aSs he M
Q-you said you had license toi cheyenns1 A.
Ye,st ths license came pes approved nsa the nn y.
%ss f S s SSe 0
Q-was not your license at Cheyenne revoked BY
" Q"fgPom ShonY Al think Il came from "a,
oGwhst authority had the Agent tor doing that
A-wel, Il came from The Department OF tue Interior
He WRITES TO oRvII-
From the foregoing 4 is evident that It wa
the President Of the United states VINO hn'
| "nxed that thing" and that II was by his direc
order that Mr. Com missioner Smith had pur
| posely and deliberately disregarded aud violated
| the express terms OF the statute Was ther
| any great and OVERSEAS owing public necessity
| was there any high and patrioiie purpose, wa
there any pure ana NOBLE asp'r ~ II ior IN
| thus TO violate the law. thus 10 bring ruin upo
the individual citizen by the arbitrary eIereis
| OF his influence over suoordnates In TIE Coy
| ernment2 From the testimony of Mr.. Orvll L
Grant II appears that during the summer Of ls7
wrote him a letter Informing him that Their
| would be vacancies IN the trading posts .
Standing Rock, Fort Peck, and Fort Belknap
| and possibly also al the Cheyenne agancy
| although OF this last he was not positive
Armed with this letter he went into Ih
snce. Bv it no became the owner OF a one
third interest IN the post Of standin
B BoGS M sr Of phadeipna never hayins ad
| vanced a dollar toward the capital until nuary
| 1876 when he put In about S2,p1O, although III
| had heretofore drawn out 81. 100 on account %
| pronts. He became the equal partner OF JOSEPH
| Leighton at Fort Peck, where the capital In
| vested amounted to ABOUT $1,000, although III
| had never Invested dollar. Having had tn
| promise OF the post leadership At Fort Berthe Z
he withdrew his claims In favor Of RAYMOND
| receiving therefor slOo). At Fort Belknap h
assisted man named Conrad To get ths license
although he swears that he has no interos
| therein. II will thus appear that OF the posts "a
which sir. Charles applied for license to trade
| CHEYENNE 10 in the hands nf q. W. Felt, "A pei
sonal appoiDtee OF tue Presd snt tnat AT stand
| ing Rock Oryll l.. Grant Is the owner with Cas-
selberry ana Bonn ifOn; that Orvil l. Grant an
| Joseph Leighton are The owners ~ forl ieck
that Fort Bertnnd h neld by Raymond, VIII
has paid Orvil l.. Grant 100 to permit hini 1
remain; that Fort Belkuap IS held by COnrad
whom Oryil l.. Grant assisted in securing h
appointment.
, or Fort rurneY we have no record and "
have heretofore shown that 4. l.. Bonnaton, Jl
, had been appointed post trader Al Fort Stevei
son In July, 1874 lie Is tbs sou Of A. l.. bOana
fOn, Sr., the partner OF Orvil l.. Grant, at stand
, | ing Rock, and received his appointment throuE
Grants influence, rnis statement Will enHbl
this House and the country to Judge OF the mt
tives which Induced the President To direct IA
| Commissioner OF Indlan Affairs TO disregard I'll
| license TO trade at these Indian posts. II the
DO worthy he will receive due commend alto
II otherwise, merlted condemnation. From Il
facts In the case, II Is not doubted by vot
| | committee that the object in refusing licens
r | TO John ii. Charles at these several posts was
, | enable the fayoTites VINO held them to trade vi
, | moeRLed and uuemDarrdssed by comm