MF1323.1197 Reel 39_1161

California W589 Austin Wiley San Francisco, Cal. July 19, '64

Reply to office letter of the 23rd ult notifying him of his appointment as the associate of Supt Huntington to make a treaty with the Modoc and Klamath Lake Indians

[illegible?] & sec letter to Supt Huntington Aug 16, 64

[ink stamp] RECEIVED AT THE Aug 11 1864 INDIAN BUREAU

Land Special [illegible?]

Office of Indian Affairs San Francisco, Cal.a July 19th 1864

Sir, Yours of June 23rd, notifiying me of my appointment, as the associate of Supt Huntington to make a treaty with the Modoc and Klamath Lake Indians is at hand.

While I fully appreciate the importance of this mission. I regret to be compelled to inform the Department that it will be utterly impossible for me to discharge that duty at this time.

You must know that the Indian Department of this State is in a wretched condition; I have the law before me which proposes a consolidation of the Districts and radical changes in the administration of affairs, and I am instructed, rather indefinitely on many points to inaugurate the new system. To this, I am lending my best, and, although my labors are attended with serious annoyances in consequence of not having a single dollar. I am doing my best to carry out the

wishes of my superiors in the conduct of my affairs. Aside from this a relentless Indian war, which has been waged in the Counties of Humboldt Trinity and Klamath for five years past, is now on the eve of being brought to a close, and in justice to the Government, the citizens, and the Indians, I must assist in its termination. Moreover, only last week I received peremptory orders from Mr Dole to attend to some discrepancies in the affairs of Mr Henley, which I have already taken preliminary steps to accomplish. Again, about all the property of value, as you have been informed, is in the shape of growing crops, which, in view of the depeleted condition of our treasury and the depreciation of our currency, it is of the first importantce to save; as the subsistence of Indians for the next year will have to depend in a great measure upon what has been raised this year. When you consider, then, with what I am charged, you will not be surprised that I find it impossible to go to Oregon at present. I have no suggestions to make in the matter. I will inform Mr Huntington of the facts. If the Department will allow me to deputize a man. I will do so and send one who I think would do equally as well as myself.

As I have an equal pride with the Department at Washington, in bringing order out of the chaos which has long existed in the State in the Indian Department. I trust it will not be insisted upon that I shall comply with your instructions of the 23rd.

Very Respectfully. Your Obt Servant. Austin Wiley Supt Indian Affairs. Cal.

Hon. Chas. E. Mix, Acting Commr. Washington