The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-11-21
ScHURZ HAS HIS SAY.
HE GOES FOR GENERAL SHERIDAN IN
GENTLE SORT OF WAY In REGARD Ts
rur IArTFR's ATE REPORT

HE GOES FOR GENERAL SHERIDAN IN
GENTLE SORT OF A WAY In REGARD 10
THE LArTERs LATE REPORT.
WARRINGTON, D. C., November l9-The
Secretary of War has received and referred
10 General Sherman q letter from the Sec
retary Of the Interior, sharply replying to
certain statements by General Sheridan In
the latter's annual report. Secretary Schurz
ssys these statements, 40 far as they reflect
upop the conduct Of the Indian service, are
Of q sweeping vague nature, but ii must be
assumed that General Sheridan would not
have made them and permitted to become
public had he not in bis possession specific
information
CONCERNING CERTAIN AGENCIES,
ard certain branches of the Indlsn service
to which these statements may be individu-
allv applied. General Sherman, in his
csaciL document, gives it as his opinion
that with vice management the amounts
appropriated by Congress oueht to be suffi-
cient, if practically applied, to the exact
purpose specified, but that the reports OF
the department comm anders would indicate
a different result, except in the case OF the
Red Cloud and Spotted Tails bands Of
Sioux. He would certainly not have ex-
pressed such an opinion without being ac-
auainted, in detail with the approPria
tions made by>Congress and
TIE SPECIFIC PURPOSES
for which they we're intended. 1t is also
to be supposed that before making The
sweeping charge above quoted he was cog
infant OF the specific Cases In which these
appropriations were not either applied at
ali, or diverted from the purpose intended
BY Congress. You will greatly oblIge me
by requesting General Sheridan to commu-
nicate such facts as may be in his posses.
sion, giving names OF agents, dater, and
other circumstances which warrant the
charge which includes all Indian agencies
in the military division of the Missouri, ex-
cent those of the Red Cloud and Spotted
Tail Sioux. 1t has been my constant and
earnest endeavor since l entered upon my
duties to
CORRECT ALL ABUSES
in the Indian service that came to my
knowledge, and General Sheridan, by fur.
nishiug such specific inform alton would
thereby render greater service to this de-
partment, ~ we'll rs to the Indians than by
mere general statements. He has put
forth q sweeping charge, and the specihca-
tions may Justly be called for. l make this
request with particular urgency in view OF
the fact that certain military officers seem
of late to have fallen into the habit OF in
dulping officially and probably in general,
In reflections on the Indian service without
taking the trouble of substantiating with
Aotail Vpuld
FACILITATE THE DISCOVERY
and the correction of abuses. do not de-
preciate criticism at all | rather invite
il but when it is officially put forth there,
il seems to me a certain fairness il due
from one branch Of the public service to
another. shall, for instance, not deem
anv officer of this department justihed IN
blaming in general terms, the army for Its
failure to intercep. the runaway Cheyennes,
on their march Of several hundred miles
through Kansas and Nebraska and across
the Union Pacific Railroad, without being
able to point to certain instances Of mis-
management or neglect
IF SUCH INsrANCB
had come to the knowledge of this depart
ment, which they have not, should have
considered it due to the army that they be
specifically ascertained and stated before
indulging in . general arraignuent. l
think it is not asking too much in the IN
terest of the public service that such rule
be observed by the officers OF the army
Likewise. General Sheridan's intimation
that the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail Sioux
were allowed to select their present loca-
tions, owing to a systematic working up OF
the case BY traders and contractors, Is also
made the subject Of
EMPHATIC COMMENT BY SECRETARY
sCHURz-
He states that this policy was adopted by
the department on the earnest advice OF
distinguished Indian fighter and manager,
General Crook, who, as the result of ms
long experience With the Sioux, opposed
any policy that would force the Sioux
against their unanimous and determined
protest to stay on the Missouri river, "a se-
riously endangering our peaceful relations
with those powerful tribes, and the Secre-
tary adds, that 30 far, at least, their loyal
conduct seems to have justified the course
adopted. Secretary Schurz challenges Gen
eral Sheridan to produce evidence IN sup
port of his imputations, and meanwhile re-
marks that il would not have been asking
too much Of him to inform himself little
better of the circumstances before
PUBLISHING HIS ASSERTION
in an official document. The Secretary
also makes the following comment upon
the remark of General Gibbop, that there
is an entire absence of the responsibility in
the Indian service" II General Gibbon.
when writing his report, was cognizant OF
specific cases of wrong doing he would have
obliged the department by reporting them
and If after such report, charges thus made
had not been enquired into and the guilty
persons held to them the proper resPonsl.
bility of the sweeping statements contained
is this report would be accepted as Justl-
fed. If he will communicate such specific
information now, he will find that there il
no such lack of responsibility as he al
leges. Several employees OF the
Indian service, who are now under
criminal prosecution, have discovered this
at their cost.
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