Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-01-16
SCHURZ VS.. SEELEYE.

SCHURZ VS.. SEELEYE.
What the Former Kn0,cs 1ib0ut IRrestiGo-
ttOns.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-The following is an
account Of en- interview with Secretary Schurz
to-day on the subject of the recent Indian
Office investigation:
Question-Did you see dispatch of Prof
Seeleye and other newspaper statements crit,-
cising the conduct of your Indian investiga-
t;uns
Answer have seen them and think Prof
Seeleye's dispatch shows that he has no knowl-
edge whatever Of the nature of the investiga-
ton that was held by the Board of Inquiry. 1t
is true that certain charges were brought by
certain persons, some Of whom were connected
with the eastern Cherokee affairs in North
Carolina. Galpin himself asked for an
Investigation Of these charges, and
ordered it, but as l had for some time intended
q thorough inquiry into the conduct of the In
dian business, enlarged the scope of investi-
cation accordingly. TO make it perfectly i'm
partial and reliable ! asked the Secretary Of
War and Attorney General for detail of one
officer each belonging to their respective de
partments to serve as members of the commits
sion. The Secretary of War gave me Major
Bradley, of the United States army, and the
Attorney General MI. McAmmon, both officers
of the highest character in their departments.
I added Major Lockwood, chief clerk of the In
terror department., also an officer of excellent
character and ability, for the purpose of
having on the board one member conversant
with the routine business of the office. In
the course of the investigation it was soon
found that charges brought and testimony
given by persons connected with the eastern
Cherokees were of comparatively little conse-
quence. Most of the charges were thrown out
early in the investigation, as irrelevant and
that testimony OF many persons referred to was
! in the most part considered of little value and
/ Importance. In fact but very few state
mcnts in the report of the boar,l are
based upon that testimony and the
whole subject Of the Eastern Cherokee affairs
is disposed of in one short paragraph In which
that board recommends that the President ap-
point commission for the purpose of testing
the claims of the eastern band of that nation.
Prof. Seeleye seems to have received some
boastful letteIs from Eastern Cherokee men;
but in fact they formed, together with Galpiu,
but a small item iu the investigation, and the
| statement that Galpin convicted and dis
missed Gu the ground of charges brought and
testimony given by persons ccnhecte5 with the
Eastern Cherokees, is therefore absolutely with
out foundation. 1t is said in prominent news
papers that disreputable persons, meaning prob
ably those that had made charges, were in close
were in constant attendance at its meetings;
which statement Is absolutely untIue
They were present only when they were EXAM
ed ss witnesses, and they had no standing be-
fore the board ohly in the character of witness
es When off the witness stand they were
the board. 1t is also said
that Galpin was dismissed without a hearing
The truth is he was before the board for more
thai twent: aass, Engaged in his own de-
Tense, examining and cross 'exsmining ct witness
SEES upon all charges brought agains. him which
at all, and Irregularities which had been dis
covered, aiiiil ;sitb which he was connected, but
the charge that Galpin was eisHtissed upon the
testimony of disreputable persons, arrears
especially absurd when it is considered that he
was dismissed principally upon testimony of
sworn testimony and it is admitted that
| for Hearty two months he withheld
from the knowledge Of the department
charges and specifications supported bt ntimer-
GUS affidavits showing corrupt practices of tho
! grossest character OF Indian agents and con-
Tractors: Without giving any satisfactory rea-
son therefor, it being his plain duty to commu-
! nicate them at once to the head of department.
I so as to render prompt action against guilty
4 persons possible. He withheld them while he
4 fairs snd acting commissioner. AS soon rs
i these charges and specifications were transmit
I ted to the department of justice parties were
indicted without difficulty:
/ G. How do you think Prof. Seeleye came to-
put forth such unwarrantea statements in the
newspaper?
A. It is difficult to account for it. l have
on my desk a letter from Prof. Seeleye dated
on the 21st of Augusta very early stage of the
/ investigation. In that letter be stated that as
q member Of tHs !rdian committee of the
House he had looked into the conduct of the
h,,ce, IS %ho Ir,ltn <>fE.,@ I, Il
found it all correct on the part of responsible
managers of that bureau. Then he renowned
the investigation ordered by me, and said, Il
can hardly conceive of any testimony which
! would shake my conviction of their trust
worthiness" meaning commissioners and Mr..
Galpin. Thus he pronounced.
1 Thus the judgment when the investigation Of
which he knew nothing had hardly commenced
and under ordinary rules he would have dis
qualified himself Us juror: Prof. Seeleye
may have thought that if he could not find any
serious irregularities in the Indian bureat
nobody else could, and when other people did
find them he may have jumped at the conclu-
sion that it was travesty of justice and brought
4 about by villainous means. The Professor WAS
only one Of many who did not
discover these things. l have g
very high respect for him, for his scholastic at
tainments and his integrity and purity of char
acter; but | can conceive of testimony which
would shake my conviction as to his own tit
ness for the office of Commissioner or chief
clerk of the Indian Bureau. If, for instance
he should argue that chief clerk and acting
Commissioner withheld for nearly two months
important and we'll substantiated information
showing corrupt practices on the part of agents
and contractors from the knowledge Of
the department should not
be dismissed? should consider
him very dangerous man at the best
of Indian affairs. In that respect he falls shor
of Ex-Commissioner Smith, whom l also be
lieve an honest man, and whose personal in
tegrity is not reflected upon by the report.
very distinctly remember when Mr.. Smith came
into my private Office in state of great excite
ment, holding papers in his hand and saying
Here is something very astonishing which
cannot understand The papers were thos,
above alluded to, showing frauds at Pawnee ano
' Lemhi agencies. He told me that Galpin had il
his possession for nearly two months and nov
. had given them up to him. ] asked Mr.. Smith
: what he would do with chief clerk withhold
ing information of such importance for SO long
q time from the knowledge of his superior Off
GERS. Would you not dismiss him3 He an
swered, think should.
asked further, can you conceive O
any possible explanation that might b.
. satisfactory, and he answered ! canno
! think of any. There is something
, very significant about the clamor raised b,
: some gentleman about this Indian investiga
ton. When an investigation was held tina
, led to no important disclosures it was denounc
ed impotent and whitewashing affair
, Now that an investigation is held that doe
! disclose things, and goes as far as it reaches
hands are held up in holy horror with the ex
i clamation Things must never be done by sucl
: methods" 1t is matter Of experience tina
Investigations of Indian affairs held with opel
doors, giving persons interested in covering VI