The New York Herald Newspaper, July 14, 1876, Page 2

9 - GENERAL CUSTER. Tributes of Officers, Poets and Civilians to the Gallant Dead.” Pea THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MASSACRE gone The Press of the Union on the Present Indian Campaign. WAR OP ARMY CONTRACTORS AND SPECULATORS. Meanness of the Censure (ast the Golden-Haired Leader. Foremost of those dead heroes, Who showed them how to die, Shall any shame him Now or blame him ? We who claim him will then know why. peed Li SBOE Ra SOUTHERN OFFICERS ON THE MASSACRE, VIEWS OF GENERALS JOSEPH B. JOHNSTON AND JOBN M'CAUSLAND, Waite Suvnvg Spuinas, W. Va.) July 10, 1876." General Joseph E, Johnston is at the Springs. He had been in the Far West, probably operating against the Indiaus, in apte-bellum times. On this account, and as he was a distinguished military officer, I though, it proper to aseertain his views on the subject of the recent campaign aud the massacre ot General Custer and bis command. I was forcibly strack with his re" ply. It was eminently conservative, dignified and sol- dier-like. He said:— EXPRESSIONS OF GENKRAL JOKNSTON. “Lhave read the exceedingly mteresting account in the Henan giving the details of the campaign, and I would like to oblige the Hxxa.» and yourself; but I do not think that I have any right to criticise the muttary | operations of United States oilicers.”” “You have a perfect right to express your opinion, General,” I suggested. “Yes, I suppose so; but it would be, to say the least of it, indelicate in me to give an opinion on the supject at present.” “General Custer seems to have been rather hasty in his operations,” [ said. “Of that I can’t say; and in the absence of General Terry’s official report it would be bighly improper to give any opinion. General Terry is a distinguished officer, and bas 4 distinguished military reputation. I have a very high opinion of him as an officer, and, as I said before, in the absence of his report, and with no knowledge of the topography of the country, I would hesitate to give an opinion on the subject privately, much less one Jor publication.”* “Somebody must be responsible,” I again remarked im the hope of eliciting an expression from this wary chieftain. “I dare say somebody is. There isa strang sym- pathy now for the men and officers of the entire expe- dition; but when that wears off I suppose the responsi ble parties will be dealt with as unsuccessful suldiers always are, The massacre of so many distinguished officers and brave soldiers is to be lamented. most unfortunate calamity, which should have been guarded against.” hat do you suppose will now be the policy of the government in regard to the Indians?” Ah! I dou’t know, and cannot conceiy The conversation at this juncture was interrupted, nd, as I withdrew, the General sad perhaps later, when be had allthe lights beiore him, he might give me his views. OPINION OP GENERAL M’CACSLAND. General John McCausland, an ex-Contederate cavalry officer of note, is also here 1 asked what he thougat of the conduct of the campaign against the Indians and the massacre of Custer and his men. He said: — “I think and believe that the expedition was not well planned. The cavatry force of 00 men should have been better supported by infantry. infantry in the country.” “Do you think Custer was rash m making his 0, By ——he was not’ He did the very thinga tavalry commander should have dong I would have fone the same thing myself. He found the Indian trail, was close upou them, and was be to turn back ¥ Certainly not. The only way to fight with cavairy ts with adash—to charge. | don’t blame him. He was right Butthere wasa trap, and I think some white men and these post traders furnished the Indians with ammunition and were mixed up in it” Do you think Terry responsitie in any way?” No, Ldo not. Terry’s orders seem to correct The blunder and the responsibility rest somewhere else; where, I'm not prepared to say.” CUSTER AND THE SOUTH. New York, July 12, 1876. To Tax Emitor or THR HkRALD:— Your liveral and praiseworthy efforts to honor and perpetuate the memory of the gallant Custer will, I think, be responded to in a substavtial manner by those who fought against him in the late civil war, but who now regard his loss as one to be mourned by the bole country For one I will coutribute to the extent of my means. EX CONFEDERATE, DETROIT'S TRIBUTE TO CUSTER. [From the Detroit Post, July 11.) NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1876—WITH SUPPLEMENT. © : | the president's It was a) soldier, He remembered one charge when, with sabre inthe air and his long hair flowing in the wind, the thought impressed itself upon his mind that that man would do to follow. Although mindful of his men be did not spare them when occasion called for sacritice, always in the thickest of the frightful fray of the clvil war, Other speakers followed with touching remarks, after which General Alger moved that it be the sense of the meeting that, if General Custer’s remains be removed from their present Of burial, the soldiers and ofll- cers of the State all the means in their power to have them interred 1m this State, General Trowbridge moved that the resolutions be engrossed on parchment and presented to the wife and parents of the deceased. Curried. The meeting then adjourned, subject to the call of the chairman. THR AUDUKON CLUB, A special meeting of the Audubon Club was held at the club rooms, in the Bank block, | ke appropri jon concerning the Custer and several of his fellow officers, who were members of the organization, The club rooms were profusely draped with embiems of mourning, aud over F was a portrait of the failen chiel- ib, draped with black and with an American flag. The meeting Was called to order by the President, A. M, Van Duzer, who said:— SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT. GENTLEMEN OF THE AUDUWON ce we Inst met ri e occurred touching us very sand our pride, Honored and loved nds of eru ity in their ed by their ofthis club have met painful deaths at the h enemies whil in the lurtherance gf theie As individuals we have pro We are enriched by the association, we should at this sad time vrmat expression of our grief at their sudden and ter . tor the purpose of making such ex- pression as inay seem to proper regarding the death our lamented friends, G al George A. Custer and bis fellow officers, Inte members of this club, dead in Montana, [place the work in your hands. stessrs, Ray Haddock, Ben Vernor and James W. Bartigst were then appointed a committee to dratt ap- proprfate resolutions, aud consequently reported | toliowing Wherexs our country has met with w most tearful looked for calamity int George A. Custer au ambushed and. nas: wild Sioux, « fe Wh aber the name of General sof several: creas it was the pride of this club to have enrolled as a together with the etter qualitied than himself new and stroug proof that he bravest are the gentlest, The loving are the daring.” And whereas under su instances it is manifestly fitting and proper to place upou re: and of the public bereavement; therefore. be it * wlved, That we mourn the loss of General Custer with words that ¢ biy portray; that we regard his who would have shed lustre up the worl t glowing pages o ps6 Lame deserves to be n so long 4s true chivalry is finds w place in the vor rd our sense of our own 's mliitury wed with pri mired of me ary of the world; that the Great Disposer of ved, that sneh precious upon the altar of our nk and blest spirit has blood had been reaay for sacrifice common country, thix feeling but serves to aggravate the “deep damnation of his tukiug off,” and we earnestiy in voke swift aud terrible retribucion upon his savage sluyerr. “His soul to Him who guve it rose ; while we h iy Kvonts that so alla Its gloria And though the warrior's sun has set, ts Light shail linge ‘ Bright, radiant, y of the other iced on this aster, ¢ WG a A. hwnd Lieutenant Melutosh—as that uf men eminently worthy tu hae been assceiated with their immortal commacder. Kevolved, That the Executive Committee are hereby re quested to cause the rooms of the club to be drape . with the einvlems of mourning for the period of thirty days. Kesolved, Lhut onr Seerctary is hereby instruct ypies’ of t resolutions ‘0 the city pres to fur- nd that SS ‘tRIBU TO CUSTER, [From the Richmond Whig. } James Barron Hope, of the Nortolk Landmark, who, next to Tennyson, if not better than bim, wrote the Dest poem on the charge at Balaklava, pays the follow- ing glowing tribute in bis paper of last Saturday to the gallant Custer and his devoted band:— 1t is impossible pfor the general public to appreciate the daring of Custer and bis command. It was as splendid as that of the 600 who charged at Balaklava, but without the stimulant thit the English horsemen had, They rode down upou the Kussian gunners with the eyes of the Freuch, the Sardinian, the Turke— pay, the eyes of Europe—upon them; and if they saw death beiore them, they saw | also History with her pen and Fame with | these inspirations, There is plenty of | But Custer aud bis men had none of In awild and savage country, in the solitude of a wilderness and ayiinst a barbarous foe, they rode to an awful death, with nothing to amt mate t_em save a sense of duty; and the men who fell on the Little Horn will take up the right of the line of shadowy heroes who died in the Balaklava Valley. Tears and honor for the dead, and for the hving the full meusure of a just responsibility. “CUSTER'S LAST RIDE.” nw York, July 12, 1876. To tus Epitor or Tux Heratp-— A letter from General E. W. Whitaker, of Washing- ton, formerly General Custer’s chief of staif, this day received, makes a suggestion worthy of him and but a just and proper tribute to the man whose berole “last ride”’ will live forever in patriotic song. General Whitaker suggests the passage of a law granting to the widow of General Custer and the widows and orphans of those noble souls who died with bim a pension according to the brevet or volunteer rank heid by their husbadds or fathers during the war. Why there should be a moment’s hesitation on this point Iam anable tor ove moment to couceive. Is it bot true that all the regular army oilicers who have been retired on aecount of wounds or disability nave her trumpet, | been pensioned according to their rank heid by them we beeu | A meeting of army and ex-army officers was held in | the parlors of the Detroit Club House, corner of Fort aud Cass streets, last night, to take suital action in memory of the late Generti Custer. Among the many prominent gentlemen preseat may be mentioned Gen trals Weitzel, Trowbridge, Alger, Comstock, Throop, Swift, and Majors Burleigh, Cook anu others. ral frowbridge, in bebalf of the committee, read the fol PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS Fe times wi 4 any: adequate expre: qome to us towizht ragedy which, with its details of bor Med the lund with indi bi we look in vain for w ken energy he ve hands SRV Age er alike to very The eweumstances ationding bis death seew to have been as heroic as they w A little band of brave men ®eurrounded by ® Th ath at th t Kesoived, That in tue death of Ge das lat one of its most br ts bravest deterders, « That Michigan cay img it to the b meral Caster, while in rilliant Ge ' tthe bloody slaughter of comrades demand « vigor the war, that ur -avage foes may be taught to fear che in the volunteer and not regular army? Why, then, should we not give the same just reward of merit to those dependent for support upon the labor of thos brave men who have died try’s cause? Does not eleven years? additional active service entitle them to some consideration from their country? Must the w orphans, fathers mothers of our heroic ve thrown upon the world without any resource other than the petty pension to be allowed them under existing laws? You have always been foremost in aiding all charita- ble, worthy and honorable enierprises, and your gen- erovity in heading the 1st for a monument to vur chiv- alrovs Custer leads meto think this idea will meet proval and support. We need services in tits matter and trust you will aid us. I speak for myself, aud think Lutier the sentiments of every man who lought with Or against General Custer, r had the pleasure his acquaintance, that if the government will pot permit us to avenge the death of sved and lost leader we will vote, work aud essary against any and every man who will not support so just a measure, RED TIE, HA BULLET IN HIS LEG. 1d Republi with your CUSTER WI {Hartford correspondence of the Sprin ean.) Poor General Custer! Inet bim once, about 1864, at the Ebvitt House, in Washington, just after one of bis sharp cavalry fights, One of those old growlers, a retired regular army feld officer, boarding at the Louse, saw him enter aud grumbled out, you for being in Washington in war time!’ **This," snid the young geveral, as he rolled up his pants and wowed « bullet hole in his leg. As in the old war days J gazed on him @ with bis golden hair floating from under his great son brero and bis red necktie flaming In the wing, briliian as the colors of (hw searlet-tinged or Baltimore oriole the “boy general, with the golden locks,’ seemed to | mé, as he flashed by, ike a picture of one of Charles’ power Of our government und respect the rights of its | citizens. Kesolved, That me whom they Justiy hold them with Grm Iaith tothe loving F 4 well, und we now eornestly pray that fe will vilully bestow apou them the richest cvnsviations and sumtorts of His grace. Ke-vlved, That « copy of these resolutions be sent to the nts of Geveral Custer a a tokes of oar sym bereavement NKRAL THOWMRIDGL'S KAMARKS General Trowbridge said that perhaps it would be ex pegted of bim to say something in offering these reso. ations. He knew Custer but little, but th Bim koow that he was «perfect eavaliers of the seventeenth century rather than a al creation of the uipeiwenth. CUSTPR LEFT ALONE. [From the Topeka Commonwealth, } The late General Custer owaed @ residence in To- poka, whieb was once occupied by Hon, D. W. Wilder. Mrs. Custer is a cousin of ©. F. Kendall, and both the General and Mrs. Custer have been frequent guests of MR the Kendalls in this city. Mrs Custer has no nearer relative ail, baving neither futher, mot 1, and now no hus: band. ‘Mr. Kendall expects to start for Fort Lincoln, the present residence of Mrs. Custer, in a day or two. ER AND RENO. New Yors, Jey 12,1 To THe Eviror or THe HenaLo c , In vehalf of a yullaut soldier, who cannot now kaow of any public eriticism affecting bin, nor be in & position to repel it, Lask leave to say a word. It is the most difficult thing inthe world to harmonize be also forwarded to the families of the lamented and, | of the arm§ I feel as competent to Judge of the charac. ter of (he action which resulted in this dreadfal disas- ter as many who huve published plans and opinions, and yet I dare say only this to the press and the public by the way of suggestion, viz, please withhold censure of wny officer engaged until al! the facts shall be known that can be ined, Ip the light of the meagre facis already published, it has been charged that Reno disobeyed orders, Now, it is impossible to conceive the object of bis preliminary reconnoissanee if it was not to gain intelligence of the enemy. Me obtained the intelligence required by striking his trail prompily by the shortest route and by pursuing it until satistied by its indications that it was the true trail desired, and then be returved and reported the result. Here was a display of energy aud sagacity worthy of commen ti From that moment, as lar as we koow, hi sponsibility terminated, a3 he became subordina others, Kogarding the plan, re- to | wetting a trap jor Sitting Bull by using any number of converging columps, is at least extremely questionable. In carrying out’ such a plan, exch column should be independently able to cope wth so formidable un adversary, else they would run the risk of disaster in detail, Phat Sitting Bull set a successful trap for Custer is certain, The fault which led him to destruction occurred before the tuck. Itmay be set dowu, without fear of contradic- tion, that whoever charges’ a camp of 3,000 Sioux war- riors under Sitting Bull or avy other chief with less than half that numver of soldiers will never come out, Keno and his command would have eventually been wiped out but for the timely approach of Gibbon’s colump, It was merely a question of time with either Custer or Reno, ti latter would bave employed the indians a lite longer on account of bis holding more favorable ground which he was quick enough to seize aud of baving a greater number of men to kill. As for assis Ing or supporting each other, after becom ing engaged with two miles of Indians between them, it way entirely out of the question, Custer’s scouts and guides must have been meflicient or incompetent, or their advice was disregarded, As they to have geuerally shared the death which ensued, the idea of treachery is precluded, In any case Revo cannot be held responsible, 1 have known both Custer and Reno trom youth, and have had plenty of opportunities to appreciate their superb aiitics a8 cavalry leaders, both having served in my command in Virginia, Reno commanded the reserve at Kelley's ford, in 1863, apd nobly ussisted Mcintosh in repelling the last grand effort of the enemy's cw alry, and left us masters of the fleld, ‘The Krench say, ‘Les alsents ont toujours tort.” Let us hope that Americans may not be mustuken in their generous aptitude in believing that the dead are always right. And just now, Mr. Editor, it seems to me that the press hag a One opportunity to engage in a battle for Tight and justice. Advocate tae passage of an uct by Congress which shail secure to the widow of every officer of thearmy and navy who fails in vattle at Jeast one-balt ber husband's pay during her widow hood, Imagiue the satistaction of mind and freedom of action Which a married officer could carry ito battle with the assurance that the Republe would make adequate provision for bis widow and children; and, agam, think of the — cracial fest it’ must be to the courage which carries a man to certain death, knowing that his widow will be destitute and forgotten, Let us edm- | memorate the splendor of Custer’s career and death ; but let us not forget his widow and the widows of those poble officers Who tormed with lnm and his men an unbroken skirmish line of dead heroes, Rezpectiully, W. W. AVERILL, Brevet Major General United States Army, A PREDICTION BY CUSTER, Colonel B. Carrington, United States Army, writes to the Indianap: lis Journal in relation to General Custer as follows:—“I met him at the New York Historical Society rooms in January last, when he used this ex- pression:—‘It will take another Phil Kearney massacre to bring Cougress up to @ generous support of the army. His disaster comes Lomo to me with feartul force, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WAR. {From the Omaha Herald, July 9.) But what we specially desire to say of George Crook pow is that we may have been wrongly inclined to bold him responsible for this war. We have all along | beloved that the movement of last winter was made under orders procured by General Crook, upon the pretext that the Northern Indians were accumulating arms and ammunition for war. Generals Sher- man and Sheridan say General Crook did nothing of the kind, and, in fact, we learn he regret- ted the duty to which he was ordered. General Sher- man says this is. a war of Grant and the Tuterior Do- partment. ‘This 1s doubtless the fet, and hence we are glad to acquit Crook and the army of all the responsi- bility im this infamous business. This war was insu- gated by d the gang of thieves who have robbed the Indians and the government of hundreds of millions of dollars, The lives of Cu nd his men, and of all who have been lost in this bloody business, are upon the hands ot Grant and his corrupt and imbecile ud- ministration, and the couutry will soon underswand the fact. ‘this calamity to the West, this bloody war and its consequence, is nothing in the world Luta war of ringe against thé best welfare of the counry. Neither | Sherman, nor Sheridan, nor Crook, is responsible tor it, It dates to the ‘how not to do it” attempt of the Allison commission of last year to purchase the Black Hilis, when an inner ring of Indian thieves defeated all at- tempts at their purchase that they might continue to fatten Upon robbery and thrive upon the public mis- Jortunes, It may come in our way herea/ter to venti ate the conspirators in this business by calling men and things by their proper names, that our people may know who the agthors of this bloody ruiu really are, Meantime it George Crook, who is doing his utmost to guard great interests, and upon whom, in this exigency, we all de- pend for their security, THE QUAKER POLICY. To Tue Eprrok oF THR HERALD: — “What is meant by the Quaker policy?” A few short words willexplain what those who hve on the border neur the Indian agencies understand it to mean, It is a policy by which large sams of money are appropria- ted by the United States government for the benefit of the Indiaus, said money to be expended and disbursed by numerous Indian agents, but of which money (by some unexplained twenty-five per cent ever reaches or is of any benefit to the Indians; a policy by which the Indian 1s promised | that if he will rematn oo his reservation he shall be in barness in their coun- | your | | Ludians, with their long range, repeating rifle | down United States soldiers irom a distance at ch ed with short range, single-shot car | “What excuse have | ho rode at the head of bis command, | respectable and inefficient Indian Peace Com clothed and fed, but is really starved and naked; a policy which proposes to teach the Indian to work and to keep him on his reservation, but which allows hum to exchange that small portion of bis aunuity and Tations that he reaily receives for Henry rifles and ammunition, and to wander at will buodreds of miles from his reservation. On the border we are a simple-minded people, and can- not understand how an Indian agent, wno arrives at ‘nis post without a cent except bis sulary, can manage, inalew short years, to build a house which cost in cash paid out more tian the entire salary he has re- ceived, or can keep his four servants and a lady’s maid jor his wife, ‘This is no iancy sketch. The case ix well known. No one iwuble to prove any wrong doing, but we #ee the facts, Further, when we bear the Indians of which he is in charge, complain ot defective and «i see them start off from the armed with Winchester rifles aud Colt’s revol- and return after many days to celebrate a scalp dance of a scalp taken from a ueighboring tribe, we wonder whether a policy which produces such results as these is the best that can be devised, But when we hear such pews as that recently received that these same the soldiers, ar bines, could’ not reply, and reflect that they may turn to ther agency work their own swe without let or hindranee, dance their scalp dan perhaps, excited by their taste of scalp terminate First—The Indian agents who cheat and exasporate the Indians, and the rascals who are permitted by these Todian agents to supply the Indians with arms, amma- nition and whiskey. Second —Every Ludian, whenever and wherever found with arms in his hand. Rest assured, there are many peace-loving and law- abiding mea now living, in the several Territories, who if the preseut “Qoaker policy” a8 much longer cou- tinued, will qualify themrelves, in the eyes of the highly ners, #, or, blood, take our for the ttle of BORDER RUFFLAN, July 12, 1876, HOW bO THE INDIANS CARRY NEWS? | [From the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Tribune, July &} | hours later by telegraph. criticivm upon a battle, even when the topography, | Plans and orders of the action are fuly known aod published, The ‘blunder’ at Bataklava bas never beeu settled to the satisfaction of those who were spectators to it, Thev, as now, the fall ot a cavalry hero forever sealed = the beat source of information. The underteking to criticise am action by those wot experienced in Indian warfare, when there is buta vague under standing of the plan anda total ignorance of tho to pography, would theretore em an extraordinary venture, Its, tly regretted that General Kosser's ation for Caster should have lod bin iversive remarks upon Keno’s action Little Big Hora anassacre, and that the p: instances should b editor at speculations upon Reno's “dis obedion order to be ge © publishe Having conducied or partic.pated in over a score | which to ow Le Gen of Indian ered of meudatury o were ee rth com ratin-Curet Merce oreers account frow During the war we used to beara great deal of the grapevine telegraph by which the negroes of the South heard the news in advance of everybody else, particu- larly of victories or defeats; and the Indians aye some way of communication tbat is equally aifficult of ex- planation. On Wednesday, at midnight, we bad the first news by telegraph of Custer’s defeat, but we are informed on the best authority that during that day several [udies, loaling about fur stores im (his city, made anxious iDquities if Such News had been received, and voluntarily stated the substance of what came fitteen Soon after the Indians made themselves scarce, luring that excited public sentie meut woo!d make of them au eX piatory sacrifice forthe Custer disaster, DEATH OF A SCOUT. Coexcm Buvers, July 8, 1 To Tuk Forror of THe HeRALD!— Jom sorry to inform you that Buckeye Gus, formerly ow York and kuowo there as Gus Lots, was killed ped besides being horribly mutiiated, on White y, on Jui This was ava oouting the Valley. He | was guide for a Missouri outit and a band for the gold fields of Dakota = Territor: fle OUtHt Was not molested Until they get in the Bull's Gap, Where (hey were corralied for two hours, There Was a Hite skirmish but nobody except Gus was bart, Hy publisuing Uhis you will oblige me and his friends, lor | don's Kuow their sadress. The Cimewu: wil please copy this I romain yours, (Ful, BUCKSKIN JOR, and the avenger of Ba AN OFFER OF TROOPS, (From the Topeka Commonwealth. } ye Gus. te Pres dent Grant yesterday (hat he would raise WO teow to Shawwee county within ten days to fight the nay be said that the ideaof | alike our pleasure and duty to stand by | Process) not | We are prepared, if we had the power, to ex- | 1 papars | KoA. Friedsiets, of this ity, sont a despateh | Sioux, if the President so desired. ‘There could be | 50,000 troops raised immediately west of the Mississippi river for the same purpose, if needed. Two hundred oars ago the ancestors of the sentimentalists of tn East, *ho favor the Quaker Indien sey, had the | same views on the Indian question that the Western | people now entertain. ‘Extermination’? was the word then with them as it is now with us, THE PRESS AND THE MASSACRE. (From the Philadelphia Chronicle.) Hazing \s prohibited in most of the colleges, but is not a forbidden thing at Washington. General Custer was hazed to his death, and now if General Hazen, | after having testified as he did yesterday in the Bel- knap impeachment case, is not Haysed also he will have occasion to thank his stars, [From the Denver (Col.) News. ] Extermination is most decidedly in order just now, and those Quakerish folk that regard the Indian with so much consideration should be taken to the Golgotha that ia filled with the skulls and scalps of Custer’s com- mand and exposed to the fire of 3,000 of their pets. | [From the Springfeld Republican. } It seems thar still amother Springfield boy was among the victims of the late Indian massacre, Henry A. Bailey, twenty-five years old, and a son of H. F. Bailey, the well-known carriage maker. The young man wag blacksmith and farrier of Company 1, with | which he had been connected for three years, und was generaily liked by the oflicersand men, The last otter ‘that his parents received was written just before start- ing on this expedition, [From the Macon (Ga) Telegraph.) Those who have perused Custer’s articles in the Gal- azy, under the head of My Life on the Plains,” and | which bave since been reproduced in book form, are familiar with Custer’s mode of Indian warfare. He never counted odds. His only fear was the legs and not the fighting prowess of the “Indians, His dread was an escape, and hence he pursued them pell-mell and attacked with fury as soon as be reached them, [From the Cleveland (0.) Plaindealer.) All who knew Custer knew him as a man of intrepid courage, coul bravery and a splendid fighter. But he was not a rash or thoughtless man. Doubtless he was smarting under the double insults that bad been heaped upon bim by Grant, and made the attack upon the Sioux with a view to regaining, what to every soldier is dearer than life, his honor, Let this defeat bo placed among the category of blunders (if nothing else) committed by Grant, and to Custer’s enemies we would suggest that old motto of ‘De mortuis nihil nisi de bopum.’? {From the Fall River (Mass,) Democrat. } The Sioux Indians made no hostile demonstration until their territory was invaded by bands of gold hunters, {From the Lexington (Ky.) Press.] Wars have been permitted to be stirred up by army contractors and specalators for their own selfish ag- grandizement, and scalawags of every degree have been permitted to invade their reservations in the face of the most binding treaty agreements. [From the Fon du Lac (Wis.) Commonwealth. } General George A. Custer won twelve promotions— twelve commissions—all signed by either President Lincoln or Johnson, from June, 1861, until June, 1865, At the close of the war he was a full major general or volunteers and a brevet major general of regulars. He was only a little past twenty-five years of age when the war ended. [From the St. Albans (Vt.) Messenger.] For the quadruple calamity that has fallen upon his family the great sympathy of a nation is none too large. It goes out to them from mansion and cottage, The memory of their dead will be cherished among the choicest. The future student of our history will open to few sadder chapters than that which tells of the slaughter on the Little Big Horn.”? {From the Milwaukee Sentinel.) Undoubtedly our treaty with them binds us to respect and protect their reservation in the Black Hills. We tried to buy them out, and their demands were un- conscionable;*but 1t does not appear that that cir- cumstance affects their rights in the premises, (From the Woonsocket (R. 1.) Patriot.] It fs not expected that the War Department will pub- lish its secrets in regard to the prosecution of the present campaign against the Indians on the warpath. {From the Wilmington (Del.) Herald.) ‘The present Indian war has been brought about by the republican administration, by its most shameful and criminal disregard of a solemn treaty, whereby the region in which Custer met a bloody deteat and death was ceded to the Sioux and other Indians as a reserva- tion, sacred to them, and not to be entered by any white man as an occupant in any way. This tract of country was solemnly set apart for them, and the faith of the people of the United States, by the seal of treaty, was pledged to the contract. {From the Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot.] Tiis unfortunate Lodian war, it must pot be forgot- ten, belongs to Grant’s feeble and treacherous peace policy. The campaign was inaugurated by the Indian Bureau, . [From the Allegheny (Pa.) Mall.) The swindling to which the Indian Bureau is notori- | ously addicted has characterized every step of the war | so far. The country has beon swindled into beginotng the war and is being swindled in its prosecution. The Indian Bureau, acting through the President, sent out | Generat Terry’sexpedition, as Sheridan informs us, | because “it was necessary for the development of the country. ”? [From the Topeka (Kan.) Commonwealth. } The United States has openly and wilfully violated every treaty of any importance that has ever been made with the different tribes of Indians, [From the Salt Lake News ] It is very doubtful whether the present possession of the Black Hills by the whites and the resuiting Indian ‘war can be in any wise maintained in the eye ef strict Justice. If it cunnot, then the occupancy is of the na- | ture of theft—the stealing of territory from the right- | ful owners—and the ignting by the whites is to support | the theft. | {From the Springfield (IIL) Register.] | The meanness of the censure is still more apparent | when we consider that it is expressed for no better | purpose than to curry favor with Grant, who was angry with Custer because he gave testimony against Bolkoap. {From the New York Evening Express } If General Custer hed accepted Belknap’s offered drives he might have saved his rank, bis command und his life, CROOK'S SIDE OF THE STORY. i {From the Omaha Herald, July 9.) Captain A. H. Nickorsou, A. D. C. of General Crook's staff, returnod on Friday afternoon from the fleld, and yesterday afternoon a Herald reporter obtained the fol | lowing information from him:— NO DANGER TO CROOK. He thinks there is no danger to Crook’s expedition from attacks by the Indians tbat massacred the forces ander Custer, If the Sioux do (or have) attacked him, it will save @ great deal of marching on the part of the expediion, The expedition, if | on the defensive, will have every advantage on its side, and the Sioux cannot hope to succeed. | Crook knows the country where be now is as well as | the Indians, and Captain Nickerson thinks there is no. question as’ to the success of our troops in an engage- | ment there. The reinforcements will arrive in @ day | oF two, and if everything works well the expedition | will be avaiable for atiack or detence. The Shoshones (or Snakes) bave now joined them, an@the knowl of the country possessed by these braves, aud their | services as scouls, will be valuable to Crook, CKOUK'S LATE ENGAGEMENT. Ju regard to the late fight, im which the newspapers reportea Crook as being worsted, Captain Nickerson says that when the command went out, ali the sup- plies aud ambulances were parked and placed mn as sé cure a place as could be found so that a small force of civilian employés could ceiend them if necessary till | Fewru of the command, in lese than four days ~The officers and men carried their own ration: a equip- th of time, and the first day's march 4 Early on the second day @ tight occarred ; a number of our men were nded severely, and for this reason alone General Cook did not follow the Indians as they fled from the field. THe In- § got ihe worst of Uhis fight, despite all reports to contrary. Bat a chase was abandoned, that the soldiers might fal! back to the Supply camp to care for the wounded, This shows how they “fell back.” Xpedition, on account of id be im the way. In re- gard to CUSTRR'S DEATH, Captain Nickerson thiuks it anfair to express an | opinion as to bis rashness in making the attack. The ojonel and bis entire command are now dead | Caster gave up his own iit ell as those of his jd dearest revatives, and he thinks the of the historical Light Bri- and though rashy | Drave at times, bis cot uccess during the war of the rebveliion and im the Indian skirmsnes after- d o more than justify him ia making the at- he did, and he thinks Custer lost his life in boty war against barbarism, CONGRESS. Debates in the Senate on Consular and River and Harbor Appropriations. VOTE IN THE HOUSE ON THE SILVER BILL. The Conference Committee Re- port Agreed To. PROCEBDINGS IN THE BBLKNAP IMPEACHMENT. SENATE. Wasuinaton, July 13, 1876. Mr. ALLisoy, (rep.) of lowa, from the Committee of Appropriation, gave notice that he would call up the River and Harbor Appropriation bill at the earliest opportunity, THE SILVER MILL. ‘Mr, Suxrmax, (rep.) of Ohio, presented the report of the Conference Committee on the Silver bill, and asked to have it printed. So ordered, In presenting the report be said it was not ready to be submitted to the Senate yet, but he desired that it should be printed so as to be in the hands of Senators, TROCHLES WITH THE SIOUX. ‘The Cuaix laid before the Senate a message from the President of the United States transmitting reports from General Sherman aud Major Geueral A. H. Terry, in resnorse to the Senate resolution of the 7th inst., calling for information in regard to the troubles with the Sioux Indians. Ordered to be printed aud laid on the table. MERCHANT SRAMEN BILL. Mr, Kwrvax, (dem.) of N. Y., presented the petition of 600 sailors of the merchant marine service in favor of the passage of the House bill to amend the Revised Statutes in relation to merchant seamen. Referred to the Commitice on Commerce. Mr. Kxryan also presented the memorial of the Commissioners of Tmumigration of the State of New York asking the passage of a law for the protection of immigrants. Reterred to the Committee on Commerce, VONSULAK AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION. Mr. Freiixcuvysss, (rep) of N. J., from the Con- ference Committee on the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill, reported that the committee had been unable to agree, and moved that the new confer- ence asked ior by the House of Ropresentatives be granted. So ordered, He Said the diplomatic service was organized and the salaries fixed in 1856, under the adminisiration of Mr. Pierce. The purchasing power of a dollar then was certainly one-third more than it is now. When the billcame from the House of Representatives it was referred to the Committee on Appropriations. The Committee on Foreign Relations was consulted and a sub-committee of the latter, without distinction of party, advised the Senate Committee on Appropria- tions not to make any change in the ex- isting law. our diplomatic officers Ww only sufficient for any person to live im republican respectability. They could not be made less unless Congress intended that these positions should be made mere decorations for milhonnaires, He spoke of the concessions made by the Senate conferees, aud said the House insisted upon a change of the law. Ho (Mr, Frelinghuysen) would let this bill aud all other appropriation bitis fail before he would agree to legislate on such terms as proposed by the House. He appreciated the difference between the two houses, but it seemed to him that the | Senate could not do otherwise than to decline to accede to the claims made by the House of Kepre- sentatives. The Sepate was told by the House that it must agree to reduce the army; must change the Indian policy “of the country; change the Registry and Election laws, and jor the Senate to accede to these demands would be in viola. tion of the constitution of the United States, which Said the legisiation should be vested ina Congress, to consist of a Senate and House of Representatives, This action on the part of the House was centralization with a vengeance. He referred to the argument of Mr. Thurman, made a few days agu, to the cffect tbat the House had the right to reduce the army or navy, and said, it the House had the right to reduce the army or avy it had the right to abolish either. ‘This nation in the present generation had passed through a fearful ordeal; 500,000 men, North and South, had died, but the Repubho was preserved intact. The representa- tives of the people at the other end of the Capitol had legisiated like fi en ; tbe Senate had legislated like ¢ men, and shorid cuntin better spirit would prevail, and that tbe House of Re) Fesentatives would ‘understand that the Senate could not yield. Pending the discussion the morning hour expired. Mr. ANTHONY asked uDauinous consent to speak on the subject, but Mr. Savassury said be would claim the right to reply, a® things bad been suld which should be replied to. Mr. Antuony withdrew his request, and the Cram laid betore the Senate tho unfinished business, being the Post Route bill. RIVER AND HARBOR APPROPRIATION, Mr. ALL moved that the Senate postpone the further consideration of that bill and proceed to the consideration of the Kiver and Harbor Appropriation Dil | Agreed to. Mr. ALuisoy, (rep.) of Iowa, said the billas it came from the House appropriated $5,872,850; as reported to the Senate by the Committee on Appropriations the sum haa been increased to the exient of 314. The Committee on Appropriations had found great ditli- culty in the consideration of this biil. te was Srst before the Commiuttce on Commerce, to the Commitiee on Appropriations but a few daysago. Had it not been that Committee on Commerce made great headway on the bill it would have been impossible (or the Committee on Appropria- tions to ave reported it to the Sevate by this time. ‘The committee had endeavored to reduce appropria- -tions wherever it was possible to do so. Many items found in the House bil Lad been stricken out, apd in other cases various sums had been added to the ap- propriations mentioned in the Huuse bill, the com- mittee having found, after examming the reports ot the engineers, that the amounts menuoned in the House bill were periectly inadequate In many cases it would be well cuough to make the im- “provements, but the committee thought they could be Postponed another year and, therefore, recommended no appropriation. The first amendment reported by the committee was to strike vut of the House bill the clause appropriating $18,000 for the impmovement of the barbor of Dupkirk, N. Y., and in explavation of it Mr. Allison said that sum was inadequate to complete the improvement of that bafbor, and as it was ina good condition now it was thought best not to make uby appropriatiwn uot! enough money could be appro- priated to complete the work. ‘The amendment of the committee was agreed to. The next amendment was to increase the appropria. tion for the improvement of the harbor of Bullalo, Y., from $76,000 to $100,000, ALLISON said Buffalo was one of the most 'm- portant harburs in this country; probably more com. merce passed through that barbor tban any other in the country, except New York city. At all the im- portant points in thg Stare of New York the Commit- tee ou Appropriatidhs bad recommended a slight in- crease, The amendment was agreed to, Other amendments of the commitiee were agreed to, as follows :—Striking out the appropriation of $6,000 for the improvement of the harbor ut Olcott, N.Y. ; $5,000 for the improvement of the burbor at Pultney- ville, N. Y.; $6,000 for the harbor at Great Sodus Bay, N. Y.; increasing the appropriavion tor the improve- ment of the harbor ak Orchard, N. Y., from $2,000 to $6,000, and incre: wy Seng appropriation for remov- ing obstructions in the Kast River aad Heil Gate, New York, from $200,000 to $360,000. ‘The next amendment was to reduce the amount for improving the harvor at Marquetie, Mich., from $5,000 to $2,000. Mr. Fenry, (rep.) of Mich., opposed the amendment, ‘and said Ube estimate for this work Was $35,L00, ‘The amendment was agreed to. The next amendment of the committee was to strike out the Cee tion of $5,000 for the nnprovement of Frankfort, Mich. Rejected—yens 14, nays the harbor at 27. ‘Two other amendments of the committee, striking out the clauses appropriating $10,000 ior the harbor at Pentwater, Mich, and $10,000 for the harbor at bets! River, Mich., were non-concurred in—yeas 10, nays 2 Mr. Connurna, (rep.) ot N. Y., ga would inove to reconsider th pposed that it was the intention of the to adopt a tixed line ot policy in regurd to this was disposed to act with Committee on Ap 1 was the purpose of the committee to appropriate, first, for the preservation ol works already begun, ond second, vo compicte works of national importance and postpone works of jotermediate importance. He beneved the legislation touching the improvement of rivers and harbors was radically wrong, and it had been illustrated to-day that the question was, which Sta works, suall be espoused by some Senator? There was gauge in this whole matter, utd that was the ol the engineers, Me. Feany said be w. illing to and did vove for large appropriation tor the improvement of Hell Gat because it Was for the beueflt of the commerce of the whole country, He favored the appropriation of a moderate sum for all harbors of importance, to keep them in good condition. Mr. Kenyan, of New York, sala the barbors snoula needed tor the public od, He, wa policy Avil tale and $6,000 to that S81 f Lee ti Mr. 3, (dem.) of Va, said, in view of the just he thought it would be bill to the Cor Mee On Appro- tructions to irae a bill embodying beat to recomm Priations, with i which imstance, which » Py saden of the committees were agreed toas or . Increasing the amount for the improvement of the barbor at Green Bay, Wis,, from $8,000 to Rg pe old striking out the Seoroueatiae of $10,000 for the har! at Menomonee, i 5 harbor at Two Rivers, Wis., from The Committee on the amount for the $15,009 to $5,000, at Sandusky, Ohio, from $30,000 000, Re- jected—yeas 18, nays 24 The next amendment was to reduce the pee tion for the breakwater at Cleveland Harbor, Ohio, from $75,000 to $50,000, Mr. THURMAN 0} the amendment and spoke of the importance of this work at Cleveland. Tne amendment of the committee reducing the amount was rejected—yeas 21, pays 26. Other amendments were follows:— East pier ppropriation Relapse the bar- nn pncreasing @ appro tion for the improvement of the Connecticut River baer Hartford, including say Brook Bar, from $20,000 to $50, 3 Striking out the appropriation of $5,000 for the bar- bor at Milford, Conn , and $5,000 for the improvement of tne Housatonic River, Conn. Tke committee reported amendments striking out the appropriations of $5,000 for the improvement of Taunton River, Mass,; $10,000 for the unprovement of the harbor at Fall River, Mass.; $10,000 tor the harbor at Now Bediord, Mass., and $10,000 for the 1m- provement of the Merrimac River, Mass, all of which were rejected by the Senate, ae Ppro} 100 Salom agreed to, as Appropriation of $8,000 for repair of the Cleveland, Ohio, The amendment striking out the $10,000 for the improvement of the entrance of Harbor, Mass., was agreed to. MILITARY POSTS ON THE YELLOWSTONR, Pending discussion, Mr. Wixpom called up the House bill to provide for the construction of miulit postson the Yellowstone and Mussel rivers, and it as passed. ‘The Senate then, at five o’elock, adjourned, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wasuixctox, July 13, 1876. Mr. Mackgy, (dem.) ot Pa., oflered a resolution for the adjournment of Cong'ess on July 25, Referred t@ the Committee on Ways and Means, ‘THR SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTION. Mr, Tuompson, of Massachusetts, from the Commite tee on Electious, reported a resolution in the South Carolina contested election case, declaring that neither | Mr. Butts (the contestant) nor Mr. Mackey (the sitting member) was lawfully elected to Congress, Ordered printed. ‘THe SILVER BILL Mr. Payne, (dem.) of Ohio, trom the Conference Committee on the Silver bill, made their report and proceeded to explain it, The Houge recedes from its disagreement to the first amendment of the Senate and agrees thereto, which is to strike out the word ‘‘now”? and insert the words ‘at any time” (the meaning of which is that the silver coin which is in tho Treusury at any time may be issued to the amount of $10,000,000). The Senate also recedes from its disagreement to the House amendment to the second amendweut of the Senate,and both Honses agree to the following substitute :-— Sxcrion 3. In addition to the amount of subsidiary silver coin authorized by law to be issued in re of frac- tional currency it shall be lawful to manufacture at the several mints, aud to issue throagh the Treasury and ite in to an amount which (inclading the several offices, such coli antuunt of subsidiary silver coin and fractional currency ing) shall, Yo"the aggregate, uo exceed at say ‘time $50,000,000, Sac. 4. That the silver bullion required for the purposes of this act shall be purchased trom thine to time at the mai r the Secretary ui the Treasury with any money u '¥ Not obMerwise uppropriated, but no pare of bullion shall be mude under this act when the market rate tor the same shall be such usqwill uot admit of the coinage and Issue, as herein provided, without loss to the ‘Treasury, and any gain on sel zation ising from this coin- age shall be accounted ior and pxid into th ury us provided under existing laws relative to the subsidiury coinage that the amount of money at any one time inve: uch silver bullion exclusive of such cireu- Iating coin: hot axceed $200) Mr. Payne went on to explain that in regard to the proposition to make silver dollars a legal tender for all debis, public and private, the committee had been un~ able to agree, but two of the House conferees and all of the Senate conferees recommended the omission from the bill of all that related to the silver dollar, He showed that, owing to the extraordinary decline in the price of silver within the last jew months, and most remarkably within the last ten days, the silver dolar (of the weight and fineness prescribed by iaw) is to-day worth no more than eighty cents relatively to gold, and less than ninety cents rela- tively to greenbacks. So extreme and sudden a change in the value of the silver dollar made toe pyeesios of declaring it a legal tender @ mest start- jing proposition, and one of a revolutionary character. ‘There was now a law authorizing owners of ballion to have it colne! on payment of a small seigniority, and this would give them a# benefit of twenty per cent on that operation. Was the House vrepared to compel the creditor class to receive payment of their debts ia currency depreciated twenty per cent? or was it prew pared to say that tariif duties should be received in it, thus reducing the tariftwenty percent? It was cer- taiuly a grave question, aud one which should not be decided without proper deliberation and considers ation, Within ten days the price of silver had fallen in London trom fiity-two pence to forty-seven and one- belf pence per ounce, and no one could tel! where that depreciation was goigg to stop. Certainly Congress and the country should wait until the standard valae of silver were fixed by law. Perhaps it could be deter- mined at the next session, but it could not be now. The Confereuce Committee, therefore, could not in recommending avy policy in reference to tne silver dolla The report, after a long debate, was adopted—yeas 129, nays 75—as follows :— Yuas.—Messra, Adams, Bagley, Bay .Jt.. Ballon Banks. Banning, Beebe, Belt itt Bia adiey, Brown of Kunsag, Buckner, Burchard of illinois, Burchard of Wie: Littl ‘Can non, | Caswell, | Canl- Cochrane, Ue Cox, Crounse, Cutler, Dantorth, Durval, Davy, "Durand, ly, Freeman, Frye, _ Garfiel Sians’"’ Uareisedy: Perertge. Hatmeods Levees Heth ass,’ Harrison, Partridge. Havi . Hen Hewit of New York, Ali, Hoar, Hostinn, Buobellt Hurd, Hurlbut, Jenks, Jones ‘of New ‘Hampshire Kimball, Lemar, Landers of Cou. Lapham, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Lemuvine, Marsh, McDougall, MeDill, Meade, Mil: nroe, Mutehier, Nash, Norton. Oliver, ‘acker, «Pi P ‘Phelps, Pierce, Ran. Rei of a of N. ton, Sintickson, Small of, 50. Thom, Thornburgh, Tor Townsend of Pa, Tucker, Tufts, Turney, Waddell, idron, Walker of N. Y., Wailace of 8. C., Wullace of Pi jo. Whitehouse, Whit ‘Wiltiains of N. ¥., Williams of Del., Williatés of Mich., Wiliard of Ala, and Willis of N. ¥, Nays.—Messrs Ai wu, Ashe. Atkins, Ba- ke ie, Bradford, Bright, Brown Ki jabams, Ualdwell of ‘len- ot Missouri, C), brell, Dovi wan Jass, Dunoell, Eden. Egbert, Glover, Goodin, Harris. uf Virginia, Holman, Hopkins, House, Huuter, Kell we, Mackey of South Carolin: nia,’ MacFarland, Morgan, 5 oppicton, Rea, Reagan, James B. Savaye, Slemons, Sparks, Spencer, ne. Ti orton, Van, Carotu Waiker of Wilson of West Vir~ 2) Pa Hh, verry. Vorhes, Vance of Ohio, Vance of North Virginia, Willard, Willians of Indiana, giuia, and Woodbarn, THK INDIAN APPROPRIATIONS, Mr. Sparks, of Illinois, from the Conference Commit tee on the Indian Appropriation bill, reported that the committee had been unable to agree. The same come mittee (Messrs. Randall, Sparks and Hurlbut) was re appointed, the Senate conferences being also the same, ‘he House then, at four o'clock, uajourned. THE IMPEACHMENT, YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE FY} THE CASE OF EX-SECRETAKY BELENAP—THR WITNESS EVANS NOT PRESENT AND THE HEAR~ ING ADJOURNED UNTIL TO-DAY, Wasuixetox, July 18, 1876. ‘The Senate, at twenty minutes past twelve P. M., ro= Suined the consideration Of the articles of impeachment. against W. W. Belknap, late Secretary of War, The Chair presented a communication trom the Sergeant-at-Arms in regard to Jonu 8. Evans, the abe sent witness, stating tbat Evans had been 1p attend- ance, but was allowed to go by the managers some ‘weeks ago with the understanding that he should be notified when to return; that he was notified and left Fort Sill tor Wasbington the first week im July by way of Fort Reno, and was now delayed by freshets in the ‘West, ‘The pending question being on the motion of Mr. Carpenter, submitied yesterday, to adjourn over until ‘ival of the 7 ian oobentited tie ahetioea ecarce aia line to state for the wee they expect to prove by the vl x, of Ohio, said it seemed obvious that might be here auy time. He moved that the Senate, sitting as a court, &e., adjourn woul to-morrow, ; Mr. Bavaro, of Dolaware, submitted the f@tow. ng That as @ condition precedent to the order for the post. ponement of this trial asked for by the respondent, it is or- red that the respondent inform the Senace what he poses to. prove by the wituess, John S. Evans, on whose. ground the postpouement is asked. Mr. Canreyten said he entered a respectful protest against being compelled to disclose whet the proposed to prove by this witness. Any lawyer was jad to de- nd the interests of his ciieat and i DY the rales of practice, Mr. Evans was the man upon whose testimony these articles of impeachment were reached * ‘The counsel for the defence hud never exal not having had opportunity to do so. Ti bad the assuzance of the goverument toat Evans was to be here. He had been here and was released by thé managers Without consultation with the detendant’s counsel. The defence couid not state what they expected to prove by Evans, because they did not know. he 4 knew that Evans had intimate knowledge of facts, jed in one way would be of great benefit to it he test the defence. Mr. TuurMan said no tite would be lost by adjoura- ing the Court until yo-morrow, as the Senate was ready w the River and Harbor bull, He reuewed bi hut the Senate, sitting as a court, adiours until to-morrow, and it was ax reed