Letter-1861, May 17

Transcribed letter from L.H. Morgan, Rochester, New York detailing among other things his concern about the operation of the Manual Labor School and makes accusations of speculation and spoliation to Wm P. Dole, Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated May 17, 1861

Rochester, New York May 17, 1861

Dear Sir

   I avail myself of the first occasion I have had to write to you to congratulate you on your appointment as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Although I was an unsuccessful applicant to President Lincoln for the same appointment I wish you entire and distinguished success in the administration of the important affairs of this Department.

   In 1859 and 1860 I visited all the Emigrant Indian Bands in Kansas & Nebraska except two and several of the native Tribes. I obtained some information of the operation of the agency system as to its Efficiency and as to its abuses upon which at some future time I might write to you. My object at present is to call your attention to a grevious abuse of the school fund of the Shawnee Indians of Kansas by the Methodist Episcopal Church South though this mission is located upon the Shawnee Reservation.

   By the Treaty with the Shawnees on May 10, 1854 this mission received a grant of three of the most valuable sections of land on the reservation an amount altogether beyond any proper wants of the mission, and also unprecedented It was said to be worth $20 per acre at the time including buildings. By article 6 of the treaty it is provided that the Missionary Society shall have $100 per annum for ten years in the Education of Indian children as a consideration for the same. In the 3 article the same of 100.00 The housing is set apart as a permanent school fund for the Shawnees at 5 per cent per annum. This would make $6000 yearly for ten years and $5000 permanently for educational purposes for the Shawnee children.

   A supplementary contract, which I have not seen was made between the Missionary Board, the Shawnee Chiefs and the Commr of Indian Affairs of which for the period of ten years the entire income of this fund was set apart to the Board for the education and maintenance of Indian children not exceeding 80 I think per annum. I am also informed that this contract is so framed that the Board draw the money whether the Indians were availed of the school or not.

   In May 1860, the total number of Indian children at the Mission School was 8 and yet the board was receiving $6,000 per annum for their maintenance. For evidence of this fact I enclosed a report made by a committee appointed by the Shawnee council to visit the schools on the reservation. Mr. Cornatzer one of the committee allowed me to take the copy for use. And it was my intention to forward it to Washington on my return.

   It is evident that the mission has lost the confidence of the Shawnees, whether by design or otherwise I know not. But this much is clear that this Board has been guilty first of speculating in the school fund to the extent of its total diversion and absorption: and it is the first instance in the history of American Missions to my knowledge in which a Religious Society have used a mission for purposes of spoilation.

   It is not manifest that this contract ought to be at once annulled, not only, but also that an inquiry should be instituted as to the extent of the fraud committed upon this fund since 1854, and the measures should be taken to recover back al1 the money thus unjustly taken without sending any equivalent $. The Mission property would furnish indemnity.

   Full information upon this subject is no doubt in the files of your department, but your attention may not have been called as yet to the subject. Having but little confidence in the last administration, I did not communicate the facts on my return from Kansas as I intended.

   One other thing allow me to refer to, I have a great desire to visit the Indian Nations on the upper Missouri either this season or the next. Namely the Arikarees, Mandans Gros-Ventres Assinboines Crows and Blackfeet. If you should have any occasion either this year or the next to send a commissioner or special agent to visit either or all of these nations, I should be glad to be selected for that purpose. The American Fur Company I am told, are stronger than the Government with these Indian Nations, and the Government is forced to deal with them to some extent through, and in connection with this company. Sooner or later this must come to an end. It has occurred to me that a Factory System organized by the Government for these nations would work favorably and would tend to localize and settle them.

   The object of it would be in place of annuities in goods distributed at one time to furnish them with supplies throughout the year in exchange for whatever products of the forest, the chase, or the land they might be able to produce. The Indian women would nearly support the whole of them if their well known industry could be made available.

Yours Respectfully
L.H. Morgan

Hon Wm P. Dole
Comm. of Ind. Affs.

[Transcribed from National Archives microfilm series M234, roll 792, frames 813-815 by Becca Bruce Jan 9, 1993]