National Republican., 1880-03-25
OUR INDIAN WARDS.
The Old Story of Swlndling and
Robbery.
A Sad story of tho Pottawatomics-Repor
Dead and Dcspolled of Their Lands
The Indian Bureau Keeps Their
EIoney and Denies Hearing
The New Ute Policy
ouray Going Home.
Tho PottawntomIe IndIans.

This Government never can be justly ac-
cuscd of treating their Indian wards any too
well anywhere, but case has been brought
to light which challenges crcdulity, and
which, If true in its allegations, is n digraco
TO our Government aud TO the history of civil
ization In the nineteenth century. The case
Is that of the Potiawalomies, of Kansas, who
have serious grievances which they have
brought to the attention Of the Interior De-
pnrtment, which has referred it to the Indian
Bureau, which has utterly refused to give the
matter attention 50 far us to settle the question
Of right and wrong, and afford tho slightest
relief.
II is alleged that in 1861 treaty was made
between tho United States and this tribe or
nation of Indians, uudcr which they were en-
titled to several tracts of land which were al
lottcd to them in soveralty, ms appears by the
allotment rolls On record. 1t appears, also,
that in 1862, while the civil war was raging,
somo seventy or eighty Of this tribe including
thirty or forty who were not allottcr3, joined
with number of Kickapoo and Delaware
Indians in hunt for game on the plains of
Texas, and while pcaccably pursuing the
game were attacked by q party of Texas
rangers or q force of mounted, armed men, and
u number Of their people, men, women and
children, including two men of the Pottawat-
omies, were slain, and great number of their
horses and ponies were captured, and they
were ItlU WlIUOuL INC lllCdIlS bO TtlUIll 70 llClI
homes in Kansas. After the battle above de-
scribed they fed to Mexico for safety, and
there remained until about the year 1874,
when n Government commissioner was sent
to them, who invited them to return to the
United States, aud proposed to give thon q
reservation in the Indian Territory to live
upon
They did return and settled down in the
Indian Territory, between the Canadian and
Dp1 rivCra tylinrn tlny had frnn,
the Commissioner they could reside and have
their homes They further alcge that while
in Mexico, Oliver Ii. p. Polk, John w. Polk
aud Richard b. Bertrand visited them and
represented to them that they had lands in
Kansas, and offered to collect all moneys and
annuities coming to them and to purchase
their lands. They refused to sell or execute
powcrs of attorney authorizing them to collect
annuities or other moneys.
Subsequently these Indians learned that
they had been dcspoied of their lands and
annuites, aud forty-one Of their number ap-
pealcd in 1879 to the Government for redress,
but the Indian Commissioner, who seemed to
act under the advice Of John w. Polk, utterly
refused to listen to their appeal Then tho
Secretary of the Interior was appealed to- and
he simply sont the appeal to the Commissioner.
Honcc nothing was done.
These forty.one Indians, who are still living,
find that they have been reported to the courts
of Kansas us dead, and that letters of admins
tration had been taken out; that their lands
had been sold and their annuities had been
collected. Failing In receiving consideration
from tho Indian Department, these Indians
now appeal to Congress- for committee of in
vestigation, which shall examine into tho
matter and got to The bottom facts, with view
to securing justice. These Indians, who are
represented here by strong friends, allcge as
follows That they havc been despOicd of
tho lands allotted TO them in scveralty by the
forging Of deeds in their names. That these
lands have been sold to aceomplces who are
now IN tho possession and enjoyment of thom,
That they had not then nor havo they the
power of alternating these lands, aud yet they
are deprived of them. That by means Of fraud
ulcnt letters of administration, combination
of punderers, high in position, have collected
their anuuites and other moneys from the Gov
crnment That administrations have been
taken out on their estates as If they were
dead; their funds have hccn collected,
and tho swindlers standing security for
each other have squandercd them. That
guardians have been appointed for their
children whilst their parents were liv
ing to complete the utter spOliation of their
properties. That this Government has insti-
tuted suits against the administrators and
guardians, but found no assets. Under these
circumstances an appeal was made to the late
commissioner oil lnulan AHHlIS, anu thhU oll'
cor not only refused TO redress the wrongs of
these people, but threatened to arrest them if
they did not return to their territory. In
view of these facts and the other grevious
fact that they have neither means nor credit
with whlch to prosecute suits for the recov-
cry of their lands and moneys, and that they
are oppressed, plunderod and impoverished,
they now appeal from tho heartless il not
corrupt officials, who are the legal guardians
Of tLnGa yy,nVIg IN thn l'Dnprpgy DF tho lIni ted
States. On the face of it., without explana.
ton or ameloration, tho case involves Il series
of the most infamous transactions known to
civilization.