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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIOKER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 33 something more is needed in the form of legislation. Superintendent Sells in-forms ns that the system of plunder is thoronghly organized, having its grade, of agents and participants, from the reckless and daring scouts aud drivers, who are well acquainted with the country, and who steal and rnn off the cattle to the Eansasline, up through the agents of the contractors, who receive and ar-range fraudulent hills of sale for them, to men of higher position in the social scale, who, incited by avarice, have seized with avidity tbis disgraceful means of gain. I n fact, it appears as if an obliquity of conscience had affected the whole community on the border, for the great majority of the people seemed to favor the speculation, or regard it with indifference. In confirmationof the estimate made by the anperintendent as to the extent of tbis traffic, the position and influence, civil and military, of the personsen-gaged in it, the difficulty of preventing its continuance and of punishing its op- ' ewtors, I here subjoin brief extracts from a report which has just been received from Lieutenant George Williams, who was some time since detailed by the War Department to investigate these matters, under instructions from this office. After alluding to the large number of persons who have made independent fortunes in the business, be says: "Not content with having this odium attached to their own names, having carried it on so snc~essfullya nd without interruption from those in authority, who knew of the whole transaction in this line, but who were too deeply inter-ested themselves to try any measures to put a stop to it, they have induced men by the hundred to go down into the Indian territory and stealand drive out cat-tle," kc. Again : "The military force sent into this State for the protection of these Indians have been the agents through whom a great portion of the stealing has . been accomplished," &c. After giving the names of some thirty or forty prominent men, merchants, military officers, Indian agents, traders and others, whom he charges directly with being implicated in this traffic in one way or another, Lieutenant Williams says : "The above-mentioned parties and their allies, the cattle thieves, have been engaged in thebusiness since 1862, and I have evidence against most of them in my possession, but there is scarcely if any use to attempt to prosecute them before any court in Kansas, because they openly make their boasts that they can buy men enough to swear anything they want them to, and I know they speak the truth from experience." As to the extent of the bnsiness : ',In my opinion, during the past four there have been at least 300,000 head of cattle stolen from the Indian tenitory, a country at one time rich in their cattle possessions, and now scarcely a head can be seen in a ride of 200 miles." The very late arrival of Lieutenant Williams's report, just as I am about elos-ing this paper, makes it impossible for me to give it, with the voluminous ac-companying testimony, sufficient examination to enable me to form a judgment as to whether the testimony fully supports the syeeping charges made by him, and I do not therofore feel at liberty to incorporate his repnrt and testimony among the documents to be published with this report, but submit the papers for your information, andfor such directions as you may see proper to communi-cate. after having given them examination. I will only remark, that so far as the charges implicate any of the agents or employes of this bureau, every pos-sible effort will he made to ascertain theirtmth, and bring to justiee any that are found guilty. The law enacted by the last Congress on tbis subject provides only for the punishment of those who actually drive or remove "any cattle, horses, or other stock from the Indian territory for the purpose of trade or commerce." Thia does not seem to reach the case of those who deal in the stolen property, and 0 1 3 |