New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-29
THE INDIAN BUREAU AND CHEF JOSEPH

BUREAU, CHARGING THE WRONGS OF JOsFpu
AND HIS BAND OF ME- PIERCE INDIANS TO TIE
WAR DEPARTMENT.
! To The razor Of Ths Tr(Bun,
SIR: My attention has been called 70 an
article published in your issue OF the 2d instant on
titled Secretary Tellers Opportunity" which has boen
READ Win surprise by many who are, perhaps mora
familiar with the facts connected with tina socallod
Sory OF the wrongs to the Nez Perez tribe than thu
gentleman who claims the honor Of it's authorship The
article in question is called forth in connection with
printed pamphlet memorial from the Synod Of the Pres
byterian Church. addressed to the President asking him
to right the wrongs Of the Nez Perez Indians Il has
not been our pleasure 10 have read this printed pam
phiet memorial" but THE TRIBUNE says in substance
that 1t ses forth the familiar story Of the unproyoked
and unjusihabe outrage which the Government perpe-
traed upon these Indians You also assert in very en-
phac language, that you have always regarded the con
duct Of the Interior Department toward the Nez Perea
| Indians az " cruel and unjust"
| The surprise ia that THE TRIBUNE should have an
mistaken the Indian policy OF the Interior Department
to connect with the warlke and aggressive
features Of another Department represented In the
erse language Of OF its most distinguished repre
sentativee, that the best Indian dead Indian - and
had THE TRIBUNE in its article used the words War De-
partment" Instead Of Interior Department" or In.
dian Bureau the surprise OF the general reader would
not have been perceptble 1t Ia not proposed at
tempt any defence Of the humane policy which has char
the OF aHars IN the Indian
Of late years, TO contrast 1t with what it might
have been under War Department rule nor is there the
least desire or intention to provoke controversy with
coordinate branch Of the Government; but simple
Justice demands that the charge which you make, Of
cruel and unjust treatment of Chief Joseph and his
band by the Interior Department, should meet with
positive and emphatic denial
Joseph and his band formerly belonged TO that class Of
Indians known "drcaners." who believed that tho
earth being created by God perfect and complete should
not be disturbed by man, that the cultivation Of the soil
Improvements in the way Of schools. churches, etc,
crimes. from which they revoed They laid claim
to tract Of country embracing nearly
1000 square miles, and though tho
other bands Of Nez Perez Indians
equally int crested in these lands, cheerfuly compiled
with the requirements OF the Government and moved
upon the reservation set apart for their USE Joseph and
his band persstenty claimed The right to at large
that vast extent Of country regardng it as his own
and settlers thereon intruders whose rights he in
wise bound to respect Serious conflicts and disturb
ances resulted therefrom, and commission was finally
sent by the Government effect peaceabe solution Of
the difficulties General o. o. Howard was chairman Of
that COMM sson and abored earnestly to induce the In
dams to abandon the hunt and their renegade life and
20 upon their reservation. Joseph made many fair
promises and violated them as often made. Finally
after numerous frutess councils with the Indians and
much delay, General Howard and Agent John b. Mon
eith agent OF the Nez Perces held final council with
them in the Spring Of 1877 at which Joseph
and White Birds bands manifested their perfect
satisfaction with the terms Of the proposed
settlement, and gave their solemn pledge that they
would the lands which they had selected by
given day. and that very day they took their families
and stock, left their old hauns and commenced their
raid OF page and murder Salmon River Twenty
whites murdered in cold blood and six white
women were outraged. This the initiation of that
war, and its history too familiar to require repetition
When Joseph and his followers were captured. the
very serious question presented What disposition
shall be made of them I" and In attempting TO solve the
problem the Interior Department naturally looked TO
those who had been prominent in endeavOTng 10 secure
an amcable settlement of the difficulties The uupro
yurd and cruel murders and crimes referred to- created
nsuperable barrier against the return OF THESE IN
dians to the home previously prepared for them on the
Nez Perez reservation III Is pam 10 Pg seen ihs' '9
| recoilectlOns OF these crimes would Danlsh all
ope Snd ii followers o. on Sa in
| its vicinity; and anticipating that tue frien'is anu
relatives OF the victims would wage an unreiehthg
war upon the offenders it deemed advisable for the
peace and protection OF the Indians and the cause OF
humanity not To return them to their OLD home III ldahO
General Miles strongly urged in two or three reports to
the War Department tuer removal to the Tongue RIVER
against this aud fully sustained by the General OF
tie Army. General Howard, than whom none was
DETER qualified speak intelgently, also IN letter 10
the War Department, dated December "a, 1871 SAID:
My opinion lGclines to my original recommehGa',9In
namely thai all the PRISONERS be sent were the Mo-
| docs TO the Indian Territory. Knowing now much
they have for exasperaOn fear at the lrrta
ton between whites anu indians would be Increased
! they should return General Sherman. October 10
~ En- q tel cram IN Genera Sheridan spakpg of the
capture Of Joseph, says: Tue capture OF all that re-
OF JoSephs band. just reported by YOU u most
important, because know that nearly al the paclne IN
dams been watching the result and therefore de-
eide, as ar as ny authority In the premises co. tat al
these captured Indians must never be allowed 10 return
Oregon but should be enrfted on the MOdOcs III tho
Indian Territory. They can march under escort to
Fort SufOrd, and thence be transferred 10y
| boat and rail 10 the reservation, where their
maintenance will cost 4at little etc General
partIncnt says: most heartily join with General
sherman in the Importance Of locating TINS band IN Tue
ludiau Territory" several Otner communications OF
similar character were subsequently addressed to Tue
Mar Department by these distn ssned officers, strongly
gug tnc removal oI THESE lhuahS 70 nc ian ii
tory. ana the Indian Bureau acquesced IN the pOncy
adopted by the War Department III regard TO theh' -
1ne sickness and many deaths %Mcn ocHulI Ihia
.Ostpu's band Is not due. as you charge 10 tue nlu
DureAu ordering them TO be sent INTO the m3hila
bed of Inc ndan territory, where they nave been lorceo
u remain, though the climate has Killed theih on at an
alarming rate" The mistake which you MAKE II ia pre-
,uuug that the ordering To be sent INTO the IaaIla
| belt" etc. the act OF the lndan BuIeau'
! drrs emanated from the Wax department and were
sinpy acquesced by the Interior Department as the
best solution Of the difficulties then presenter. Win 70
Joseph and his band had surrendered they were etut 70
| Fort IeavenwOrth on RECOMMENDATION OF the GeuerM
| Oruer the War Department issued the -Oh ui9 u.
November, 1877; and On tie 27th OF tue same month
the notified the secretary OF war Oh
tue arrival or the Nez Perce prisoners AT fot
and recommended that the Indian DuIeau oe
1uested TO take charge them At the earliest pTaccaDo
date. In accordance with TINS recomInendIton ~. 10
necessary by the War Department were Issued 70
tue counandant al Fort LeavenwOrth TO deliver tne
prisoners agent who would be designated Dy tno
Indian Bureau receive them and on the list OF Juy
| ISIS 4IO prisoners delivered 10 United states
INSPECTOR Mcneil and United states Indian Agent H. ".
jones' VINO without military escort conducted them "
the location previously selected for them Ia the dldn
| Territory. ,,x.,
Ii will be in a report made by Inspector McNet
that the caaapng-pace selected by the oOnmandant Oi
Fort for these indians aud wnere ne isa
them, Missouri River bottom, about Two lAes
| above the fort, between lagoon and tine river ING
worst possible place that could ave been s.tete az
the sanitary condition OF tue Indians proved IL no
puysclan IN charge SAID that onenaf could De sau ~
ne sick ana all were affected by TIE poisonous ma1ia
ira mated with the poisonous malaria OF the camp
erte itself IN the prusation by sickness shors
time after their tie indian IerfltOrJ OF aooH'
IL nnntms LneLealter al least Ohe