Year: 1875

that can DO named therefore make the following
extract nom their report TO the President Oh the
United States dated January 7, 1S68-'We believe the
Indian question to be one of such momenous import
ance II respects both the honor and interests OF the
nation, as to require for its proper solution an und-
vided responsibility. The vast and complicated duties
now devolved upon the Secretary of the Interior
leave him too little time TO examine and determine
the multiplicity of questions necessarily connected
with the government and civilization Of race. The
same may be said OF the Secretary of War AS things
now are, it is difficult TO fix responsibility. When
errors committed the civil department blames the
military; the military retort by the charge of nef
cheney or corruption against the officers of the bureau
The Commissioner or Indian Affairs escapes RESPONSE
bity by pointing to the Secretary of the Interior,
while the Secretary may we'll respond that, though in
theory ne may DC responsible, practically ne Is gov
erned by the head OF the bureau We therefore, REQ
ommend that Indian affairs be committed to an nde-
pendent bureau or department. Whether the head Of
the department should be made member Of the Pres
dents Cabinet is matter for the discretion of Congress
and yourself and may be as well settled without any
suggestions from US. "


Ny own observation and reflection brought me TO the
same conclusion, which, think, will also be
Cured in by every airminded man who is intelligent
in Indian affairs II Is not without precedent il
seen In tho establishment OF the Bureau OF Agriculture
The Lighthouse Board forms another striking


illustration, as 1t has performed its work integenty,
honestly and without rcproach since its formation in
the year 1852 know of no other department OF the
government that retained its full integrity during the
fearful temptation to peculaton caused by the rebel
non IL consists OF two officers OF the navy and two
ocers OF the engineer corps of the army of high rank
ana TWO eminent civilians, all of them appointed by
the President the Secretary of the Treasury being
oDtcto president of the Board but rarely serving A
bureau charged with the of the nations Indian
wards may be made equally efficient if the judges OF
the supreme Court are authorized to nominate the
President OF the United States for his rejection or ap
pointment, the man or the be charged with all
the restraining and civizing Influences decreed by
Congress for the of Indians If this board COM
posed OF two officers of the army not below the rank
Of colonel and of two civilians OF Intelligence and ex-
perience, they might be the permanent supervisors,
and be ntTusted with the nomination TO the President
OF one more executive officers to be charged with all
the business appertaning to the Office. Confrma-
ton by the Senate in each should be a
prerequisite when that body is in session, These
suggestions as the mode OF forming the board are
crude, and / would be perfectly content with a
nomination the Senate by the President provided it
Is distinctly understood that appropriations for the
Indians be placed the domain OF political
patronage To give the permanency absolutely
necessary 10 promote the civilization of Indians
the members of this board should not be changed,
cept for misfeasance maeasance in office Indians
will be quite prepared modify their treaties If they
acquire confidence in the integrity and stability of
those who stand between them and the government
Pray do your influence to produce this change,
VIII ch will be less difficult than before be-
is popular and because the political patronage
hitherto highly priced has been taken from MEM
bers Of Congress and committed to missionary assoca-
tona AS | have never had the pleasure of meeting
you seems right that should close with this brief
statement The advocacy OF the Indian cause was
forced upon by the Indians themselves and by theI
best friends and also by the General Convention of tho
Protestant Episcopal Church Yours, respectfully,


WILLIAM WELSH.