The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-21

agemeut OF affairs would De manly unuei
the charge Of gen. SnERIpAN. If 1t Is pro-
posed to give that officer large discretion
airy powers, there is force In thi Objection
for though Gen. SHERIDAN did goo SER
vice in the late war; lac has repeatedly de-
monstrated his entire unfitncss to be in
trusted with duties appertaining to civil
affairs. Either because OF an utter inca
pncitv to understand the restraints placed
by the Constitution upon the military
power in time Of peace, or in consequence
of being puGcd MP with an inordinate idea
OF his own Importance and OF the privi-
leGes Of the military class, he seems to look
with contempt upon the restrictions of the
laws aud the Constitution. He has shown
in Chicago, after the great fire, in New
Orleans, and in his Interference with q
civil court In Vicksburg that he does not
hesitate to Disregard the requirements of
law when they do not agree with his own
wishes and those of his supcriors in Wash
ington. 1t should be remembered. how
ever, that all these offences have occurred
when he knew that he had behind him the
support OF President rs regardless rs
himself OF legal Obligations and OF an un-
scrupulous Congress ready to condone any
misconduct which had the sanction Of
Gen. GRANT.
The career Of Gen. SHERIDAN rs an In
dian fighter was reviewed with deserved
severity by Mr.. Cox. 1t is well known
that Gen. SHERIDAN does not believe
in treating with Indians; he thinks
they should be exterminated. Among
the acts for which he is rospon-
sible was the issuing OF an order declaring
all Indians hostile when found outside
OF their proper reservations, after n peace
commission, OF which his superior officer
Gen. SHERMAN, was member, had guar
anteed the Indians against whom the order
was directed. the right to roam and hunt
outside their reservations under certain
conditions, and the slaughter of BLACK
KETTLES band of friendly Cheyenne In
dams on the Washita river where they
were legally and peacefully dwelling.
Sull more atrocious was the butchery
OF women and children in n Piegan small
pox camp IN 1870. executed in pursuance
of his instructions after personal con-
ference with the commander of the de-
tachment which did the work. The
results Of this engagement were
pompously announced In bulletin
issued by Gen. SHERIDAN from his head
quarters in Chicago, in which 1.-The spirit
and conduct of the troops and their COM
maud" were highly commended, rs fol-
lows: "One hundred and seveuty-three
Indians were killed. three hundred horses
captured, and the village and prop
erty of the band totally destroyed" The
bulletin concludes with the remark that as
one of the results OF this severe but neces-
sary punishment OF these Indians he con-
graduates the citizens OF Montana upon
the reasonable prospect Of future securit,
for their property and lives. From Mr..
| CoXs speech we quote more candid de-
scription OF this event;
Lieut. PrAsE who Was for the tine being the sgen,
OF le.e Indians reported the result OF the expedition
ing As super ntendcn' Of Indian Affair.", and the latte
made tntori to tue lndisn ono. az "asninsi9a Iron
| Killed on 10 we're what might De called nghting men
from 81 100 years OF age and additional were
over O. years fifty chillren under II year, Of az
| two months with the smalpex raging IN IT. aud som
1.-THE band attacked md thus destroyed were RI
iloRNs band against which no charges o. hostility Ia
been made ana Gen FULLY remarks In his report tha
II wa. to be regretted since u thought nece sar
bsu So q he me SAND ncfha a iI Out m
bana wac the line 10 the British possessions"
tits evident that TO turn over the IndaI
| population TO the Unrestricted control OF
such men rs Gen. SHERIDAN would be tho
extreme OF humanity; but we do no
understand that anything OF the kind Il
contemplated. Congress makes laws foI
the government OF whomsoever is intrust
ed with the administration OF Indian af
fairs. and all that the military should b.
permitted 10 do is TO see that these law
are faithfully executed. II officers of AM
rank undertake TO abuse their authority
they should be visited with swift and sur,
punishment, and it is in the power Of Con
grcss TO effectively guard against such un
warrantable usurpations Of power
At present the great object TO be at
tanned Is to break up the Infamous lndial
Ring, with its complicated machinery 70
stealing the money appropriated for tn
Indians If this Is done, and the liberia
appropriations made for the various tribe
are honestly disbursed, there would b
very little likelihood of any occasion 70
hostihtics between tho two races. 1t seem
10 us that transferring the whole manage
ment OF Indian affairs under the dircctio
Of Congress- TO the War Department. wit
l suitable restrictions for the guidanc
OF the military in their dealings with Tia
Indians, is the best means OF arriving Q
I the desired end.
Explorations in New Guinea.
s In the narrowing field of geographic