Arizona citizen., 1878-02-08
THE INDIAN BUREAU.
-"Ths Logic Of the Board About on a Par with the secretary's Sense of Justice"
Letter Ito the Editor Of the Cincinnati Ga
 Kette.

Letter Ito the Editor Of the Cincinnati Ga
 Zette.
 OAKLAND, CAL, January 8, 1878.
 In your paper of this date IS publish ed lengthy synopsis of the report of the Board 4 Inquiry appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to investigate the Indian Office. As this report re- fleets to some extent on my admins iraiion of that office, as well as upon
 me personally, 1 trust you will permit me to make through your columns & brief statement This board, consist ing of three clerks, was appointed by the Secretary on or about the 7th of June last to investigate the truthful ness of certain specific charges against
 MT Galpin. chief clerk of the office. The investigation sfterward took al wider scope, extending to all the af- fairs of the office This board sat with closed doors, and the witnesses were pledged to the most profound secrecy. The evidence was put in type from
 day to day for long period, but was vigilan;ly kept from me, and although I more than once asked of the board
 and & the Secretary, that l should be
 informed of any evidence refecting in
 any way or my integrity or efficiency as an officer, and ws' repeatedly and emphatically assured by the Secretary that there had been DO such evidence submitted, and, should there be any, that he would at once notify me, and afford me the fullest opportunity 10 an- swer, the publication of this report is | the first information l have had on the subject I have never before had sn
 intimation or suggestion that any act ! of mine, of omission or commission,
 was made matter of censure, or re- ouired any explanation or defence, not
 withstanding 1 was recently in Wash ] ington, and was called before the board | to testify in relation To charge against
 Mir Galpin. Imagine my surprise, sf-
 ter having this unqualified promise
 from the Secretary, 10 ind lengthy ex-
 tracts given 10 the public by this same ! Secretary from the report of the board,
 which contained 6 labOred attack upon
 my administration of the Indian Office,
 as the result of a secret eX parte in quiry, extending through seven long, | long months l do not pretend tO say that an honest and fair investigation Of my administration would not develop the fact that mistakes had been made 1; but 1 appeal to all fair-minded men
 whether any conclusion or an Investi-
 gatiOn made in this way Is worthy of public respect, or whether the character 2 of any public man is safe when he can be assailed in this very way by order of a superior officer? It is not my purpose in this note 10 attempt any an
 swer to the criticisms and censure of the Board of Inquiry. It is stated that the report 60 is Q very elaborate and vO- luminous document, making sixty-fve printed pages, exclusive of testimony. ' Before 1 undertake to answer the ac- lcusatiOns contained in it, 1 wish to see this precious document 1 have writ
 ten to the Secretary of the Interior to request a copy, and trust that after he and his board have done me all the {, damage they can by publishing broad cast over the land their ex parte con- cluslons rehecting upon me, 1 may kindly be permitted to see the evidence on which they are based. In re-
 gard to that part of the report publish ed in your paper, have simply to say
 that some of rhe statements are perhaps true, some of them are distorted and . twisted perverslUns of the truth, and some of them are absolutely false But what else could have been expect ed of an investigation conductel On , such principles-so viOlaiive of every
 principle of fairness, and so grossly I un-American, that 1 think it has nc !, precedent, and trust it will never be : repeated: 1 am charged by the board ! with trying to evade something, know : not what, because 1 simply insisted or
 being informed whether they had re 5 ceived any accusations against me The logic Of the board Is about on { . par with the Secretsry's sense of jus
 Iice. Tie report has been given tht , widest possible circulation May not reasonable ask of all fair minded , editors who have published it to inser this brief note:
 Very respectfully, JQ. sMIIH-