The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-08-07
Our Washington Letter,

Our Washington Letter.
| Additional Duties for Cen. Hancock
Cabinet Nsstings, so-oalled Outrage
ous Treatment Of the Ponoa Indians.
WAsHIreron, D. G.. July q, 1880.
EDlToR CHIEr: s.s
Tho President has ordered that, in
addition 10 his duties % General Com
manding the Department Of the East,
General Hancock shall assume tenn
porarily, command Of the Department
of the South. This action has Of
course, no bearing upon tho candida
cy Of the General, but, rs it forcib!y
presents the fact that tho necessities
Of the services may 1t any time re-
quire that l,o be assigned to duties iD
the performance Of whicl, he might
be compelled to increase or decrease
his political prospects, It will probably
strengthen his determination to resign
i from tho army.
At the treasury it is said there will
be very slight reduction of the debt
for the month Of July il any. This is
not because Of less receipts, but Of
larger payments for interest and other
expenses.
Cabinet meetings nowadays, are
not meetings Of members Of the Cahi-
net. Two only were present yester-
day, and one Of them postponed his
departure from the city in order to be
present. It las been suggrsted lately
that, as the stated meetings generally
are of no consequence whatever, they
be dispensed with, at least during the
hot weather, the President summon
ing his advisers only when there is
need Of advice.
The sad case of the Ponca Indians
is now attracting the attention Of
many who desire to see justice and
humanity exercised in the treatment
of the +" Nations wards" The history
of this case may not be familiar t4,
your readers, and | will give it in .
few words. The Ponca Indians owned,
by treaty, q tract Of land in Dakota.
Their claim is as good - that of any
property holder in this country, and
was recognized and approved by .
Senate investigating Committee. But
the Indian Bureau, with no shadow Of
law or justice to favor them, drove tho
Indians of, and compelled them to
settle in a sickly portion Of the 1ndi-
an Territory, whore they now are.
Since settling there one third have
died from climatic diseases, and lis,
determined to enjoy the benefits of
their lands, left the reservation in the
Indian Territory, returned to Dakota,
aud on their own lands have culti-
waited more ground than the 400 re-
naming in the Indian Territory. The
indians brought suit to recover their
lands. but their counsel is not allowed
to communicate with them, nor are
they allowed the legal favors shown
to the most abandoned criminals. The
Indian Bureau made inquiries az to
:heir condition, in the Indian Terri
tory aud received report from the
Agent that they were happy, con-
tented and anxious to remain. The in
vestigation ended here and the out
rage continued. 1t is known now, and
was suspected when the Agent so falsi-
fed their condition, that these Indians
we're and are utterly broken spirited
and helpless under the outrages COM
mitted upon them; that the money
appropriated to make them comfort
able has been used by the Agent to
build fine houses for himself and bis
assistants while the Indians are conf
PEELED to live in miserable huts; that
he has abused his lawful authority
and established despotism among
these defenseless savages, disgraceful
alike to the civilization of the age and
the boasted libe,t ties of our govern
ment. He has not stopped even at
murder, as upon slight pretext be
shot one Of the chiefs in his Office.
The attention of the Indian Depart
ment has been called again and again
to the facts in this case, but without
avail. After while the young men in
charge Of the Department will realize
the mistake they have made.
/ SENTINEL.
The people of tho parish of La
fonrche will vote 90 Sunday Law
on the 2nl of November next. A pc
tition signed by 448 citizens of that
parish was presented to the Police
Jury urging the passage Of an ordi-
nance closing all places Of business on
that day, while counter petition,
signed by only 50 citizens, was pre-
sented, urging directly to the con-
trary. Instead Of the Police Jury
taking the boil by the horns," and