Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-15
HAMMOND VS.. THE INDIAN CoUN-
TRY.

HAMMOND VS.. THE INDIAN CoUN-
TRY.
Tn Sioux City Journal gives nearly q
column in its Saturdays issue to a presenta.
ton of the military and inspectors side Of
the agency troubles up the river, which it
probably obtained from a gentleman who
passed through Sioux City the day before
and who has a leaning toward the govern
nent side Of the question. The article re-
cites that 1t. Dougherty siezed the Office
and safe Of DR.. Liyingston and that Gen.
Hammond arrived the next day clothed
with extraordinary powers-powers equal to
those which surround the secretary of war
and the secretary Of the interior. In other
words, he is combination of the interior
and war departments with the chief execu.
tive of the nation at his back-a trinity in
himself, sustained by the grand army of the
United States and the immense influence of
the coordinate civil branch Of the govern
ment. He approved the acts Of Lieut..
Dougherty. 1t may appear to the reader
that such extraordinary powers are entirely
unnecessary for the performance of SO sim
pie a duty as the investigation of the affairs
of an Indian agent. The Journal has, how
ever, discovered a wonderful mares nest
and it proceeds thereupon to edify the pub
lie with the following summary of nom
seuse:
1t is estimated that when the fii details.
of the causes Of the summary proceedings
of Gen. Hammond and Lieut.. Dougherty
are given to the public, it will create the
greatest commotion ever occasioned in the
western country; and men in high standing
in the west, and in fact all over the country,
will bs Implicated in one of the most gigan-
tic series of swindling operations ever I'm
earthed in the country. 1t is estimated that
there are thousands Of dollars ready to be
put up against the life of Gen. Hammond
by parties interested in his taking away !;
and that the creation Of the Office Of general
inspector of Indian affairs, with its almost
a man of Gen. Hammond's we'll known
ability aud tenacity of purpose to the posi-
ton, was for the very purpose of unearthing
this very scheme Of gigantic fraud. The
nature Of it is unknown to the public. The
military is %reticent and the opposing party
aae said to be afraid to give q clue to the
real trouble; but it is said not to be confined
to the Indian agents and traders, but to pur-
sre its ramifcations into various walks OF
society. So dangerous is the experiment Of
unearthing and exposing these eomplica-
tions regarded, that the friends Of Gen.
Hammond have warned him not to move
about without a guard, and Lieut.. Dougher-
ty has been to st. Paul for the purpose of
attempting to get relieved from his portion
of the onorous task, without effect.
We pause, and with bated breath await
the breaking of this terrible storm which is
gathering about the heads of men high and
low the country over. We greatly fear that
by the time these gigantic developments are
completed, it will be discovered that DR..
Livingston cut the agency hay in July in
stead of in October. That he steadfastly re-
fused to resign after committing this ofense,
and when he knew his place wa wanted for
another man. That it was necessary to
bounce him when the little game of freeze
out failed. In the aggregate, when the re-
suits of this investigation are summed up,
it will be found that DR.. Livingston's nine
years Of service at Grow Creek have been
without fraud, and for the best interests Of
the Indians under his charge. By his man.
agement they have prospered. They have
been we'll fed and well clothed, and as con-
tented and happy as ever any Indians were
under the restrictive regulations Of their
white guardians.
There is an amusing absurdity in the sug.
gestion that Gen. Hammond's life is in dan
ger-that it is necessary for him to keep
about him a body guard of United States
bayonets wherever he goes, though it is a wick.
ed libel for any newspaper to put forth such
an assertion. Gen. Hammond's operations are
directed against such men Is DR.. Livingston,
E. E. Hudson, Maj. Gregory, W. D. Russell,
Rev. J.G. Gasmann, Maj. Clsrkson, Rev.
s. D. Human, and others of like high char
acter and standing. An intimation thatgen-
tlemen Of this class would employ the knife
or the bullet of the sneaking assassin to nd
them of an opposer, is $ despicable effort 70
manufacture public opinion, and one which
must weaken the cause Of these alleged re-
formers in the eyes Of all fair minded men.
The case of Gen. Hammond against the
Indian country is now drifting in the direc-
ton Of the courts, where it should have been
begun. It il 70 Be hoped that II will soon
reach the Legitimate investigating tribunal
and that further exercise Of unvarranied