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Show 156 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. managers to take them as they came, and to convey them in the same manner, in good pas-senger cars, and to the same station as those we accompanied personally. I may say, re-specting the above journey, that all went on quietly and peaceably no trouble and no dis-order, and with no guards but my friend Cox arid myself. Upon our arrival we sent a mes-senger and letter also to the governor, agent, and head men of the nation, inviting them to come and take charge of our company. Some few came before we left, and others were ex-pected, who would give such information and advice as they needed. Duties requiring our return to Washington early, we parted with the Indians in good feel-ing, and they expressed gratitude for their comfortable journey arid for our kind attention. This remnant of the Cherokee tribe, by reliable accounts, rendered valuable assistance in the infancy of our Government, and have occupied lands in North Carolina and Tennessee upward of a century, and have received little or no care ( by way of education or otherwise) from any body of white people, and now to be deprived of and forced off from their lands, and deprived of money due them, appears hard to them. They allege that their lands were sold by Government agents, who ^^ sed the money to pay their private debts, their bondsmen and others connected with them as pretended claim agents, without the consent ot the Indians, and against their protest, which they will show on a fair investigation of this fraudulent transaction. It appears to be the Quapaw payment ( witnessed last year) over again ; the same parties concerned in that are alleged by the Indians to be concerned in this case of theirs now pending in a suit brought by the Attorney General for restitution. The Cherokee name has long been familiar to our nation, their grievances and wrongs have claimed the sympathy of all the good and virtuous, and I hope this poor remnant will share largely in the good fruits of the present policy and peace and good will. I wish to curtail this report as much as possible, expecting reports from other members of the board will require much space; continued ill- health in my family, and being very much worn from constant engagement by day, and much night- travel, has prevented my reporting earlier. With esteem and kind regard, thy friend, respectfully, J. D. LANG. F. R. BRUNOT. APPENDIX A h. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PURCHASES. Hon. FELIX R. BRUNOT, Chairman Board of Indian Commissioners. SIR: Your committee, who were charged with the importnnt duty of aiding tlie Government in the purchase of goods and supplies, respectfully report that during the year they have given their advice and assistance whenever they were asked by the Indian Bureau. On the 27th April your committee superintended the opening of bids for annuity goods. These had been advertised for in accordance with the plan recommended by us, and fully explained in our last report. A suitable warehouse had been secured in New York for the delivery, inspection, and shipment of the goods, under Government lock aud key, and had been kept open for several days previous for the reception of the samples whioli accompanied each bid. At the hour named for opening the bids there was a large attendance of the repre-sentative merchants of New York aud other cities. The proposals were opened by the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs, who proceeded to read the same in the pres-ence of the bidders, two representatives of the honorable Secretary of the Interior, your committee, and some other members of our board. For several successive days we were closely occupied in examining the samples and aiding the Commissioner in making the awards to the lowest bidder according to quality. The total number of bidders was ninety- two, and the awards were as follows : Blankets and cloths ., 157,588 70 Dry goods 183,793 31 Clothing 34, 675 90 Hats and shoes 9, 701 G5 Hardware 25. 368 96 Tobacco 33,434 50 Total 414,503 0' 2 The feeling that there was to be fair and open competition, led merchants aud man-ufacturers to offer their goods at, and even below, the lowest market price, which ena-bled the Government to secure goods of excellent quality at extremely low prices. |