The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-08-25
THE HALF BREEDS.
An Interesting Question Raised Between
Gen. Terry and Indian Cona=
smiss f0ner EEpyE.

EnissA9WGF AAbyG.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2a-IIvCr since the ft1y-
pointment of Mr. HOyt to be commissioner OF
Indian affairs there has been trouble brewing
between the War Office and the Indian Office.
Last fall, when Gen. Terry was in Washing
ton he met the President and the Indian
Commissioner in conference on the subject of
the management Of the Indians. It was ut
that time that Mr.. Hoyt stated that the pres
enceof United States soldiers at the various
Indian agencies had Il very demoralizing
effect and they ought to be removed In sup
port OF this statementhe said tho soldiers de-
bauched the Indian women and peopled the
agencies with half breeds, and that he had
evidence to prove it,
Gen. Terry took issue with him on this
point, and declared that his experience proved
that the civilians Employed about the agencies
were responsible for this crime, and not the
soldiers. He said, however, that he would
thoroughly investigate the matter, and rs
soon as he returned to the frontier he wrote
ask Commissioner Hoyt for the evidence in
his possession. This letter was sent GB Mr.
Hoyt, but no reply of any kind was received
Gen. Terry waited several months, and in
February last wrote another letter calling for
the evidence, which was also sent TO Mr.
Hoyt, but he maintained the same silence
as In regard to the first letter. During
| the month of May Gen. Terry wrote q third
letter demanding evidence, and accompany
| which had been conducted by his orders. The
report was made by Gen. Carlin, the COM
manding officer at Standing Rock Agency
| 1t contained the evidence of the agent, his
employees and the Catholic priest, The mis-
sion school teacher of the agency, and the re-
suit showed that out of the forty-four half
breed children under eight years OF age, only
one belonged to 8 soldier. This report was
sent to Gen; Sheridan, who indorsed it with
the opinion that 1t waS correct, and then for
warded it to Gen. Sherman, who has placed
| the following Endorsement on it:
Il confess | have no patience to deal with
this individual question. The experience OF
such men as Gems. Carlin, Terry and Sheri-
dan, who have for thirty years lived in CON
tact with the Indians, is pooh-poohed by a
mere novice, q mere theorist, who never saw
q real Indian, the present commissioner, and
therefore it seems idle to submit this absurd
letter to Congress. beg the honorable Sec,
port OF Gen: Carlin), then explain it to the
| President If necessary let him combat their
| signatures and contents. If the President is
not convinced that Mr. Hoyt knows little OF
us take all troops away from Indian agencies
and put them to protect the white settlers
against the depredations of their (the Indians
young and enterprising braves. Soldiers are
| OF course, men, and are denied wives and
concubines. They have passions which are
common to the sex, but military discipline
does something to curb this passion, whereas
| the agents and their employees are sustained
by, no consideration, moral or physical. Be
sides, Mr.. Hoyt ought not to balance his the,
oretical opinion against the matured judg-
ment of such a man as Gen. Terry, the soul
Of truth and honor. SHERMAN"
Referring to this matter the Washington
Post says: "Within the past few days the
Secretary Of the Interior, acting evidently
upon Mr.. Hayes request, has issued secret
circular to all Indian agents, directing them
to hunt up and forward evidence against the
| United States soldiers stationed at the differ
ent agencies. This circular proves conclu-
sively that Hoyt did not have any evidence
at the time he made the charge, and now he
is pressing the agents to collect such matter
for him in order that he may escape from the
predicament in which he has placed himself