The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1878-09-13
A Row Over Indians.
THE COMMISSIONER A MERE NOVICE"
CONTROVERSY IN WHICH HE GETS
WoRsTED AND IN WHICH GENERAL
SHERMAN LOSES HIS PATIENCE
AND SAYS SOME CUTTING
THINGS.

woRsTED AND IN WHICH GENERAL
SHERMAN LOSES HIS PATIENCE
AND SAYS SOME CUTTING
THINGS.
WASHINGTON, August %.
During the latter part of 1877 there was
an official conference ON the Indian ques-
ton at the White House, at which were
present the President, the Secretary of
War, the Secretary of the Interior, the Gen.
eral of the Army, General Terry, and the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs. At this
conference Commissioner Hayt said the
presence of troops at Indian agencies was
very demoraliziag to, the. Indians, and that
the soldiers habitually debauehed the Indi-
an women. General Terry resented these
remarks, but the Commissioner said that
there was evidence that one-half of the
children born of Indian women at Standing
Rock Agency were half-breeds. Upon re-
turning to his headquarters at St. Paul
General Terry determined to institute an
investigation of Mr.. Hayt's charges, and ia
furtherance of this determination he ad-
dressed the Secretary Of War, asking that
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs might
be requested to furnish such evidence as he
might have on the subject Of his charges
On the goth of December, 1877, this letter
was forwarded to the Interior Department
by the Secretary of War, but no further at
tention was paid to it. General Terry, on
February 25, 1878, wrote another letter,
asking the Commissioner for his evidence,
but this Jared the same fate. On May 16,
1878, General Terry addresses letter to the
Secretary of War, saying that, feeling sure
that Mr.. Hayt did no. intend to make any
reply, and being unwilling to longer delay
the investigation of the charges made by
the Commissioner he had directed General
Carlin, the post commander at Standing
Rock, to make full investigation and re-
port the facts. General Terry, in forward
ing the report, says:
forbear to comment upon the action of
he Commissions of Indian Affairs in re-
fusing to furnish me with the information
for which | asked. Whether under the cir
cumstances that refusal is right and just to
those whose character has been attacked |
leave for others to determine, but inasmuch
as the charges made were uttered in the
presence of the President, the Secretary of
War, the Secretary OF the Interior, and the
General of the Army, | respectfully but
earnestly AJAX that the enclosed report be
brought to the attention of each of them.
This letter and General Carlin's report
were sent through General Sheridan IS head
quarters, and the latter officer indorsed
Terry's letter as follows
Simply calling attention to the we'll
known irreproachable character of General
Terry and his high sense of honor and fair
ness, fully sympathize with him in his en-
deavor to clear his brother officers and the
soldiers of his command from the charges
made against them by the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs in the presence of the high
est officer of the natlon-the President.
Consideration should have been given to
the communications heretofore sent by
General Terry ON this subject, but as they
have been met by silence, I respectfully
forward this third letter, with the accom-
panying statement of General Carlin, COM
manding the post of Standing Rock.
General Sheridan forwarded this letter to
General Sherman, and the latter placed the
following characteristic Endorsement upon
it in his own handwriting
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 80, 1878.
Respectfully submitted to the Hon. Secre-
tary of War:
| confses | have no patience to deal with
this Indian question. The experience of
such men as Generals Carlin, Terry and
Sheridan, who have for thirty years lived
in contact with Indians, is pooh-poohed by
q mere novice, mere theorist, who never
saw real Indian, the present Commission
er. and therefore it seems idle to submit
this, third letter, to convince this new
Commissioner. Yet, with the hope of
reaching the President, our common father,
l beg the Hon. Secretary Of War to read
these papers, then explain them to the
President. and if necessary let him look at
their signatures and contents. If the Pres
ident is not convinced that Mr. Hayt knows
little of what he spoke in General Terry's
presence, let US take all troops away from
Indian agencies and post them to protect
the white settlers against the depredations
of their young and enterprising braves.
Soldiers are, of course, men, and are de-
MED wives or concubines. They have pas
sions which are common to the sex, but
military discipline does something to curb
this passion, whereas the agents and en-
ployees are restrained by no consideration,
moral or physical. In such matter Mr..
Hayt ought not to balance his theoretical
opinion against the mature Judgment Of
such man as General Terry, the soul of
truth and honor.
w. T. SHERMAN, General.
The report of General Carlin is very long
and circumstancial, and gives the ages and
number of half breed children in the Stand
ing Rock Agency. He says that, out of "A
children at the agency whose fathers are
white men or half breeds, only one is the
child of soldier. The Interior Depart
has issued private circular to Indian
agents, directing them to report, as near as
may be, the number of half breed children
whose fathers are officers or soldiers in the
army. The commission ON the transfer of
The Indian Bureau to the War Department
viii meet here in September, aud all the
papers in this controversy between the In
terror and War Departments will be laid
before it.
History Repeats Itself.