Letter from Redick McKee to E. F. Beale, 1852

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No. 6.  M 582.
[Calif., 1852]
R. McKee to
E. F. Beale Esqr
Supt.
Dec. 24. 1852

[Letter P. 1]

(Copy.)

Nevada City Dec 24. 1852

Ed. F. Beale Esq
Supt. Indn. Affs Califa.

Sir:

My last dispatch was addressed to you from San Francisco on the 8th inst. & forwarded I presume by Messrs Sanders & Branham to Los Angeles. As it contained statements in relation to claims, which should be known at Washington, before Congress acts upon them, I transmitted a copy to the Commr. of Indn. Affs by the Steamer of the 15th

Hearing at San Francisco of the recent difficulties between the Indians & the Chinese, on the waters of the south fork of the American, I considered it my duty to return to this City, through parts of Placer & El dorado counties to enquire into these disturbances, & if necessary take measures to quell them. _ Quiet had however, been restored before my arrival though one or two Chinese had been killed, of the rest driven out of the neighborhood, by the Indians. It was generally thought by the Whites, that the Chinese had been the aggressors, & that the Indians acted in self defence [defense].       At present the Indians in this part of the country are quiet & inoffensive, though suffering greatly-- in many cases, from Sickness & want of provisions, clothing, &c. --     For some two weeks past, a storm of almost unexampled severity-- snow, rain & wind, --has prevailed throughout this mountain region, and travelling has become almost impossible. -- I was delayed for several days, above Coloma, by the high waters, and the Bridges & Ferries, being mostly carried off by the floods, I was forced to swim my horse across the American River. 

Finally after much toil & exposure, I succeeded in reaching this place, late last evening.

This morning I am in receipt of yr. communication dated 30 Novr. postmarked 2d. instant- which I learn reached the Post office here, by the only mail that has arrived since the storm set in. In relation to the order suspending the exercise of my "duties as

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Indian Agt. until the decision of the Commissioner is heard in relation to the case." I shall make but two or three remarks.

1. Though from many years observation both in public and private life, I had become satisfied of the prone-ness of some men when "dressed in a little brief authority," to exercise their powers to the full, & sometimes to exceed them. I expected from your sense of justice & propriety, a different answer to my respectful suggestions & enquiries. They required no "extensive discussion," and might all have been disposed of, by a simple reference to the Law, or to Instructions, if Such you had, applicable to the case.

2. Your assumption, because I enumerated as among the function of my original Commission - the power of treating with the Indians, -- that I entertained -- therefore, - an intention of exercising that power - so "as to add greatly to the embarrassments already pressing heavily upon you," And thus desiring an excuse for issuing an order Suspending the exercise of all my "duties as Indn. Agent." -- strikes me as not only illogical, -- but extremely unfair; for in my letter then before you, I stated explicitly that, -- though the power has never, to my knowledge, been revoked, I considered its exercise in the present State of our Indians Affairs in Califa., a wholly premature & inexpedient (in effect suspended by Circumstances,) And that before I should feel authorized to resume, or renew its exercise, I should expect fresh instructions from Washington, or from your office.

3. Though considering your construction of the "Office Regulations" as Arbitrary; that Art 3 was intended to apply only to Common Agents or Sub Agents, residing among particular tribes on the Atlantic Coast, & not by any means to the class of Agents Appointed with Extraordinary powers,

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for California; still as you have doubtless reported the whole case & correspondence, to the commissioner at Washington: as nothing in the way of supplies has been alloted for the Indians in this region, & consequently but few active duties to be performed during the winter months; I am quite content to let the subject rest where it is, --- "until the decision of the Commissioner is heard"

That your summary & unkind action in the premises can be approved & sustained by the Department, I have not the most remote idea. I shall transmit copies of our recent correspondence to the Indn Bureau at Washington, and hold myself in readiness for active duty, when ever, advised by letter, addressed to this city, or San Francisco.

(Signed)
Very Respy
Yr. Mo obt St
Redick McKee