Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-03-21
Reply Of Agent Mon.,e.h to MIR. Fem.

To the Editor Of the Teller, Leriston
| Idaho.
SIR:-My attention has been GALE,
to two articles published in your issu,
Of thu 18th instant, tn, first headed
"Fenn on the Transfer" the second al
editorial reversing or referring to said
article. In your editorial you seem Il
ihiok Mr.. Fenn's remarks "envelops
me in dark cloud and does not place
me in an enviable light" will en-.
deavor to dispe! that cloud aud place
myself in proper light before the pub
lie.
The first statement made by Mr..
Fem in the course of his remarks, as
published in your paper. viz. "that
am responsible for every drop If blood
shed and for every dollar Of property
destroyed 10 the course Of the Neg
Perez war" is simply the utterauce Of
a poisoned mind, and that, too, without
cause, so far as I am aware. do not
propose to enter into any controversy
on this subject II is sufficient for me
to know that the best and most respou
sible portion of your community are
aware Of what caused the Neg Perez
war. / will now refer to the three
papers received BY Mr. Fem from the
Office Of Indian Affairs and numbered
Gas published in your issue Of the 18th
instantly l, 2 and 3.
You will observe that paper No. /
comes from the office of Commissioner
Of Indian affairs, is "brief statement"
&C., forwarded by the commissioner to
the committee having under considera.
ton the matter Of the transfer Of the
Indian bureau to the War Department.
and is not directly from me, hence any
error in said document cannot rest upon
my shoulders; however, there IS but
one mistake 10 the statements set forth
in said paper No. l, and that is where
/ am represented as reporting $500
men, women and children of the Nee
Perez tribe lining on this reserve I
defy Mr.. Fem or any living man to
produce the paper wherein / ever
claimed that $500 Neg Perces lived
within tho boundaries Of the Neg
Perez reserve. They may, and. in fact.
can, find where | have reported as be-
Longing to this tribe $500 Neg perces.
and only that. Prior to the council Of
August %, 1878. and under date of
August II. 1878. in my annual report,
I reported as Hping on the reserpe
1855 [See report Of Commissioner Of
Indian Affairs for 1873. pages SO and
2S4 men, women and children. which
information was obtained by census
having been taken.
Paper No. 2 is copy Of my instruc
tons pertaining to The council held
with the Nez Perces August 20, 1878.
10 said instructions you will observe
was instructed to "see that their 1.-THE
Indiaus') wishes are expressed in proper
torn and signed by the chiefs as repre-.
sentatives Of their bands, giving the
numbers whom each represented" Had
Mr.. Fem desired to act honorable
and not misrepresent in this matter he
would have referred to or called for the
memoranda (Which paper embraced the
full proceedings Of the council Of Au
gust %. 1879 or copy Of it, which
accompanied my communication dated
Sept. 10, 1878. Said letter was pub
lished IN your issue of the l4th inst.
! and is referred to as paper No. 8.
The memoranda referred to above
embraced the remarks made by eighteen
, chiefs. thirteen Of whom expressed
themselves in favor Of tho transfer aud
five opposed it, one Of the latter being
Noses. The thirteen who favored the
transfer represented Kamiah aud vicin
ity, or l48 adult male Nez Perces; also
all the Catholic element on this reserve
and It was SO stated 10 my memoranda
Of the proceedings Of the council. The
i've who opposed the transfer repre-
seuted Lapwai aud the Clearwater.
This memoranda. was signed BY Hon,
II. 0. Adams, Of your city. as attestor
the day il was mailed, and . retained
copy Is 10 my possession. If there is Q
false statement made in my report
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