Letter-1856, November 14

Transcribed letter concerning the accounts of the Manual Labor School from Thomas Johnson to Geo W. Manypenny, Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated Nov 14, 1856

Shawnee M. L. School
Nov 14th 1856

Sir

   your letter of the 18th July to Doctor Schon containing instructions to guide me in making out the accounts of this Institution for the year ending Sept 30th 1855, has been forwarded to me + I have prepared the accounts accordingly + presented them to Agent Miller + he has approved them + I hope they will be satisfactory. That the average might be reduced so that we would be entirely certain that we were correct; I made a deduction of four scholars for the three first quarters + five for the last quarter for the children from other Tribes than the Shawnees + then I threw off all the Shawnees above the eighty as you will perceive by reference to the accounts forwarded to you with this letter – I have also made out the accounts for the year ending Sept 30th 1856 + submitted them to agent Arnold+ he has approved them+ I forward them by the same mail to you also. You will see by reference to the accounts now forwarded that our society will be entitled for the year ending Sept 30th 1855 to $2231.25 for other Tribes than the Shawnees + then for the Shawnees $ 5000 to be paid in money + $ 1000 to be credited on our debt for Reservation. Now I suppose these amounts, so far as they have to be paid in money, have been forwarded to our society, excepting a balance of $ 356. 25 for other Tribes than the Shawnees. And I suppose the money part for the Shawnees for the three first quarters of the year ending Sept 30th 1856 has been paid, leaving $1250 – still to be paid for the Shawnees in money + $ 675 for other Tribes for this year, making the amount still due the Society on the 30th Sept. 1856 as per accounts rendered –

   If you will have the amount forwarded to the Society immediately so that I can get it in time to settle up my business at the close of the year, you will do me a kindness. And if it would not be asking too much, I would take it as a great favor if you will also add to the above amount$ 1250 for the Shawnees for the quarter ending Dec 31st 1856 which will make the amount $ 3531. 25 + this will bring the whole matter up to Dec 31st 1856 so far as the money paid is concerned+ I suppose you will have the Society duly credited for what has been paid on our debt for the Reservation.

   Now in conclusion I have only to add, that had I known how the Department wished the accounts made out, I should have made them accordingly as I have now done: but I had nothing to guide me but the contract+ I thought it was the intention of that article that we should charge for the whole year for all “received into + taught” in the school, + I still think it would be just+ right for us to’ do so. Take for example the Wyandotte girl spoken of: Sarah Sarahas. She came at the beginning of the session was furnished with an outfit of winter clothing, books etc. + after a while she concluded to get married. Wedding clothes had to be furnished+ a wedding supper etc. then she leaves. Now would any thing less than a years pay compensate for this? Take another case an Ottawa girl came+ was furnished with an outfit as the other+ after a while she took sick + lingered on for several weeks, having constant attention from a Doctor+ nurses, + then she died, a coffin + burial clothes were bought + she was buried. Now I think it would not be right to charge for a full year in such cases + honestly thought the intention of the agreement was to allow us to do so. But I only make these remarks by way of explanation I have no disposition to complain. Nor do I suppose the Department has intended to do me injustice in this matter + hope the accounts as now arranged will be satisfactory.

Respectfully submitted
Thos. Johnson Supt.

Hon G.W. Manypenny Comr
Ind Affs.

[Transcribed from National Archives microfilm series M234, roll frames 266-268, by Roger Berg Jr., Jan1993]