Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-02


The illusions made in the recent tilt
between Congressman McAdoo, Of New
Jersey, and Cannon, Of Illinois, TO Senator
John A. Logan's attempt, through his
son-in-law, to secure a most valuable cat
tie ranch in New Mexico bordering on
Arizona, to which the Z1ni Indians were
justly entitled, has revived interest In that
most questionable transaction.
When the boundary line between New
Mexico and Arizona was run several
years ago, the Zuni reservation was laio
of. but by some unaccOuntable mistake
Of the Surveyor, the Nutrias Valley and
two springs Of water, without which the
land would be Of little or no value, were
left outs BE- some means Gen. Logan, who
was member of the Senate Committee
on Indian Affairs, found this out, and
through his sOn-in-law-now Paymaster
Tucker Of the United States Army-pre-
empted the tract which included the
springs and valley, although he knew
that the springs and valley were omitted
from the reservation by the mistake Of the
Surveyor and against the well-known in
tentions Of the government.
The extent Of the outrage contemplated
by the Republican candidate for the Vice
Presidency will be more fully understood
when the reader is informed that this was
not a mere arbitrary reservation laid on
for a band of wandering and predatory
Indians. but for a tribe Of industrious,
agricultural and pastoral people who had
possessed this land from time immemo-
rial. and who had lived on it in houses
made of stone and timbers in permanent
villages for more than three hundred
years, and among whom it is a boast that
they have never killed or robbed an
American.
Before the titles to the land were per-
tected the Indian Agent, under whose di-
rectiOn the reservation had been surveyed,
discovered the mistake and at once noti-
fed the authorities at Washington, when
the land was withdrawn from sale and
the scheme defeated. The land, it is as
serted, was worth many times the govern
ment price, besides being Indispensable to
the Zunis.
The transaction was first made public
through a Boston paper in December,
1882. When the article was shown to
Logan he denied that he had personally
taken the land, but he said he saw no
reason why it should not be pre-empted.
He did not deny, however, that his son-in-
law had taken steps to secure it at his
| suggestion.
After Arthur became President an In
spector of Indian Affairs was sent to in
yestigate the case, and on report being
! made sustaining the statement of the
Agent, a proclamation was issued attach
ing the tract in question to the Zuni re-
servation. Notwithstanding the un-
doubted Justice of the claim of the In
dams to this land, after the President had
restored it to them, Gen. Logan was filled
with fury at the thwarting of the nice
speculation, and wrote several letters
fairly bristling with indignation to the
| Secretary Of the Interior, and to an ultra
Republican paper defending his son-in-
| law (Tucker's) claim.
The conduct of General Logan in this
matter was not creditable to him as
| Senator or as an honorable and humane
man. 1t can be considered nothing less
than a heartless and mean attempt to
| take advantage of a mistake for his own
or his son-in-law's profit, which, if CON
summated, would cause irreparable loss
to the Indians, accompanied by great
suffering.
Logan's friends may attempt another
| defense of his record before the end Of the
session, butt will be all but impossible for
them to clear up this matter to the salts
faction OF right thinking people.