Beschreibung:

Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs letter about progress in civilizing the American Indians Author: Stevens, Ezra L. Place: Washington, DC Publisher: Date: August 6, 1884 Description: Autograph Letter Signed. 2 pp. on printed stationery of the Department of the Interior’s Office of Indian Affairs. To an unspecific Doctor, possibly H. B. Wilbur who had given medical care to fugitive slaves sent by Stevens to Philadelphia and New York. A veteran civil servant of the Interior Department, Stevens became Chief Clerk of the Office of Indian Affairs, his anti-slavery passion evolving into faith in a new era of civilizing American Indians though many tribes were then at war with the United States military. Stevens’ aid to the secret network before the War was confirmed by African-American William Still in his classic history of the Underground Railroad and in Hilary Russell’s recent study of Underground Railroad activists in the nation’s capital. "…in confidence I say to you that the Comm[issioner] has resigned….to take effect when they can find the right man to take the place…Nothing was done comparatively in the way of civilizing the Indians under democratic Administrations. When Gen. Grant promulgated his policy a new era for the Indians opened and there has been a steady advance since then…” Stevens had taken over the duties of Indian Commissioner, while privately writing a memoir - never published - of his experiences as principal Conductor of the Underground Railroad in Washington before the Civil War, secretly helping fugitive slaves to escape while publicly serving as clerk in the Patent Office of the Interior Department. Lot Amendments Condition: Very good. Item number: 318198a