Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-17
CHARGES REPEATED.

Some four months ago, our readers will
remember, an arbitrary seizure Of three In
dian agencies on the Missouri river was
made, at the instance of Gen. Hammond,
inspector. Among the seizures was that Of
the agency at Grow Greek, at which DR..
Livingston was agent. During the inter-
vening four months this agency has been
under charge of Capt. Dougherty, military
agent DR.. Livingston was ordered to leave
the agency and has since been living in
Yankton, quietly waiting for the govern.
mcnt to institute proceedings in support Of
the serious charges made by Gen. Ham
mond. But no proceedings have been COM
menccd. During this time Gen. Hammond
and Capt. Doughcrty have been busily en-
gagged in circulating reports through eastern
newspapers, of a damaging nature against
the agent who was so summarily dismissed
without hearing. The latest effort in this
direction comes out Of the visit of Commits
sioner Hayt to the Crow Creek agency. A
correspondent there met him and with the
aid of Hammond and Dougherty this inter
esting quartette has made up rehash of the
old charges and telegraphed them to the
Chicago Tribune and other newspapers and
they are once more spread before the public
and in their most aggravated form. This
correspondent exhibits venom which is
absolutely startling and in his misrepresen-
tations of an important case he seems to
have the aid and encouragement of so high
an official as the commissioner of Indian
affairs. Some of his statements are the
embodiment Of absurdity and none of them
will bear the test of investigation. All are
based upon the assertion that upon the ar
rival of Commissioner Hayt at the agency,
the government safe there was opened and
that within it were found ali the evidences
of a long career Of crime on the part Of
DR.. Livingston. The agency safe is desig-
mated as "Hammond's sealed book"
but it is fact that it has never
been sealed to that functionary DR.. Liv-
ingston gave him the combina.
ton nearly four mont4A ago and the safe
was opened and its contents, including DR..
Liviagston's private funds and papers, sent
to Washington, wheSe they arc still retain
ed. Tie charges eliminated by this cores
pondent are numerous in number and broad
in their scope, but contain nothing which
has not been repeatedly telcgraphed abroad
for the purpose of manufacturing public
opinion in the interest of the official ring
which is organizing along the Missouri
river. DR.. Livingston is willing and anx-
ious to meet them, but Commissioner Hayt
and his followers will give him no opportu.
nifty. The gentleman charged with all
these crimes has silently and patiently
awaited expected action on the part of the
government for four months. He has never
been placed under arrest. 1t has never been
required Of him to give bonds for his ap.
pearance. He was absolutely driven from
the Indian country by bayonet force and
permitted to 60 where he chose, while his
property was held from his possession. All
this is not the usual course when dealing
with supposed criminals. But Dr. Livings.
ton has not chosen to avail himself of the
privilege of liberty to escape from the
charges preferred. lie is here and here he
will stay, undaunted by the ISLANDERS Of his
enemies, to meet the accusations placed
against his name.
The assault of this correspondent is di.
rected suuarely against the EPISCOPAL church
through which DR.. Livingston was appoint
ed. Coming in this form it now becomes
the duty Of that church to insist upon tho.
rough investigation. 1t has the power to
compel this much in behalf of its standing
as a religious organization and injustice to
DR.. Livingston. Bishop Hare, as the head
of the Indian church, has duty to perform
and if, through policy or fear, he shrinks
from the task, let the lesser clergy and the
laity see to it that the integrity of the organ