Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-01-28
E>-Indian Commissioner Smith.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GEN. SHERMAN As TO
THE EFFICIENCY or HIS ADMINISTRATION.
WAsHINGroN, Jan. 23.-Ths following CORES
pondeuce hss passed between J. e. Smith, late
Commi,sioner of Indian Affairs, and Gen. Sher-
man, the former addressing the latter in view OF
certain statements contained In the report of the
Board of Inquiry into the Affair. of the Indian
Bureau
No. 800 G-STRRET, Y. W,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. %, 1873. 5
Gen. ". 7. Sherman
DEAR SIR Having had frequent occasion to
consult you during my recent administration OF
the sffalrs OF the lsdan Bursss in regard TO tho
dute, | Wa. called upon TO psiorn, ana knowing
that you have had for many years past peculiar
facilities for obtaining thorough acquaintance
with the conduct of our Indian business, respect
fully request 10 be Informed whether, in your
Judgment, nv management of that branch Of the
public service wa. Jealous intelligent, economical
aud efficient and how It compare, ID these respects
with previous administration. | viii thank YOU
also to state if you can, what opinion IS enter
famed on the same subject by Gen. sheridan and
other officer. of the army familiar vita Indian al
fairs in whose judgment you place confidence.
Very respectfully,
j. q. SMITH.
HEAD-QUARrERs or THE UNITED STATES
ARMY, WASHINGTON, ID. G., Jan. y, 1873.
hon. e. T. tNHith, ~ dshtHHtOH, H. L
Nv Dear Sir: have the honor to acknowledge
recent of your Letters of Jan. g. and take great
pleasure in assuring you that your sdmlnlstraton
of the Indian Bureau was most satl factory 10 me
10 zen sheridan, and to the Army officers genor
aIly The moment You were installed in Office
YOU put Yourself in friendly relations to mysef,
and through me to the Army officers serving on
the frontier near the many Indian agencies, where
bv YOU secured their hearty cooperation 10 The
execu ion of your most difficult office. believe
Your sdninisuatloh Of the Indian Bureau wac the
most satisfactory of any in the past 10 years and
know from personal observation that you were
slwav. most active, jealous, and had supposed
successful, in the discharge OF its duties. | am
sure that your administration was efficient, and
thought il economical though unable to form an
opinion on this head. A | have Of en- exp aimed
to you the great difficulty Of administration 10
the Indian Bureau, arose from the fact tina. each
Tribe needed special treatment, according TO its
past history and existing prsiudlces, and the abso-
lutte imi disability of controlling them from Wash
ington. Ihs Commissioners, also rest icted by
specific appropriations, could not make issues OF
prov, lions and stores to meet the ClamOr OF the
day, and the consequence was that disorders Ie
suited from staryations and distress which the
{ Commissioner could not relieve. | am sure your
feelings always prompted you to be just and lib
eral, but you could not exceed or change existing
appropriations without violating law. But Ne to
your wasting pablo money or property, do not
believe such = thing possible | assure YOU of my
great personal snd official respect, and feel sure
that the more your acts are examined the more rea-
son YOU and your friends will have t. be Satisfied.
With respect, your friend and sevsnt
W. T. SHERMAN, General.