New-York tribune., 1880-01-13
TIE INDTAN BUREAU u.
CARD FROM Mr.. HAYT.
THE INDIAN COMMISSIONER READY TO ADIDE Bf
LIE VERDICT OF TIE BURrAU OF INDIAN Oo"-


THE VERDICT or THE BUREAU OF INDIAN COM
MIssIoNERs - GENERAL FI,K's CHARGES DE-
CIARrD TO BE RrCKLEssLY MADE AND UNTRUE
To the EdffOr Of The Trt6HhG
SIR: The original attack upon me in your 'ssuo
of the 22l of December last was replied to by my
telegram Of tue 22d ut., and the report OF lhteI-
views held with Messrs. IIoEencamp and Deshler'
which werc published simultaneously WIN
it on the 23d. They were followed IN
your issue of the 2l:h of December WIN
n good and sufficient answer. over my own s'Rn"-
ture to the charges far as they related 10 me-
Various statements since that date have appeared III
TIE Tribune, from the same source whence tne
first attack came which dId not seem to call ior any
further reply from me.
When General Fisk announced through HE
TRIBUNE his intention to bring charges against me
before the Board OF Indian Commissioners at i's
next meeting Immediately addressed n lctter 10
tbe president Of the Board of Indian Commissions
ers, stating substantially that, while the Board ma"
no jurisdiction over me. yet | would waive that
point and would request the Board to inVe5Us"t'
any charges against my Official conduct wmeh
ieht he brought before It by General FISK. Aft'r
General Fisk had presented his statement 10 the
Board fair-ininded men would have supposed that
he would have rested content to try any is'ne
which be- had raised before The Board rather than N
the newspapers.
That, however. is a mistake. lie apparently Is oI
the opinion that his charges viii vanish into ne ar
before a competent inquiry into the same; and Il
wishing 20 lose hi, opportunity 10 make sensation
ina the newspapers. he is constantly furnishing 10
TuE iRBvNs ATTACKS Of gross character ~ tae
hope OF obtaining hi~ object before the Board shaI
hnish its examination and report on thc subject In
today, issue Of your paper their appcars st'te-
meut that will strike most people as little "on-
dcriul
/, will lee borne in mind that fornoaily fonr years
was member of the Board of Indian Commits
siouer~, and during that t,mc was woN kn"N u
t. all It's members. On my appointment 60 th' 'l-rc
OF Commissioner OF Indian Affair, the Board u"ah
mou,iy adopted a complimentary resolution. SOW
General Fisk states That the Board was mist1sel
in their estimate of the Commi.s oncf, charlc'rr'
GcnoIal Fisk is not hc Board, although in this core
tr,ysr.y hc has assumed 90 speak in The nam Of ihc
Board f. appears shat hc was tIc ONLY p.r-9h .lo-
taken in his estimate of the " Comm s,iauci $
character" rs his proposition 20 r'scind tie resoin-
tlon of confidence az the recent meeting was IL
no,cd, so far as any action OF the Board was con-
cerned. should have been pleased 70 have bad
the Board put it to vote. Gcn0al Fisk having
appealed TO the Board. and having agreed To- meet
him there, no jndcncnt should be formed on Lis
ex parte statements. until tlie Board finally To-
ports upon the qlc tIons submitted ~ it.
In regard to the line ot the attack pursued Il
might be well - state that the chrgc- made are IN
the form Of general allegations. very loosely made
up. which if reduced TO specific terms and inycsti-
gated, will be found to be untrue. To show how
reckless they are in particulars II might be
stated that some Of the allie cations refer TO matters
which occurred before came INTO the Indian ONCE.
1t IA undoubtedly an easy matter 10 md, among
contractors whose attempts to defraud the Govern
ment have resulted in heavy losses 70 themselves,
and among employees aud agents OF the Indian ser
wee who during the last two years have been dis
charged for cause, material for a venomous at
tack on the head OF tie Bureau. tho
rough and intciiig mt examination is now
being IN ado by n committee Of the Board Of Indian
Commissioners into the charges made by General
Fisk. trust that it will require but brief time TO
demonstrate ihc utter falsiy OF the charges made.
and to convince the unpreJudlccd public ihat the
Indian Office has been honestly and efficiently man
aged during the last two years.
II is not the purpose of ths communication TO
answer the loose charges made by General Fisk in
days TRIBUNE. and respectfully submit that the
columns of a public newspaper are not good place
to determine whether these charges are true OF
false. | am rcady TO meet ny accuser before the
tribunal hc has appealed to- and ask him to submit
there some proof ;o.u,tan bis malicious assertions
or hold his peace. General Fisk condemns the
present management Of the Indian Office. Other
gentlemen more competent 60 form correct iudg-
ment. aud having better opportunities to know the
facts IN The case. come TO different conclusion.
Yours respectfully, L. a. llAYr.
Ue3hiagton, y. e.. Jan. II, 1850.