Yonkers July 13, 1871
To Alex[ander] McDaniel, Esq.
Wilmette, Ill[inois]
Friend McDaniel,
Your letters of 3rd and 6th inst [instant], as well as the registered affidavits came duly to hand.
Upon examination of Dusham's and Colvin's affidavits that they have not been signed by the respective parties, although I do not know that it will make any difference as the papers have been aknowledged by a justice of the peace. I shall not at present forward these papers on to the Department until I have further instructions from my Friend in Washington. I received a letter from him yesterday saying that the President has just returned to Washington for the transaction of public business, and has no doubt but that our deeds will be signed before he (the President) will leave again for Long Branch, and if so will record them and the accompanying papers, and forward them with all possible dispatch; in the event of the disapproval of the President, he will [p.2] immediately write, and advise me what affidavits, and other documents are yet required in order to get thing[s] in proper shape, so as to get the approval of the President, but I am in hopes that the Department now has all the documents that are necessary; as my Friend writes me that he is confident that they will be approved by the President, as everything depends with the Examiner, which examination is favorable to our deeds etc; as the matter now stands it looks most favorable to us; and if anything should occur to prevent the approval, it will only cause a little further delay; for I am confident you can redily [readily] procure any, and all further documents which may be required in this affair.
Now as it is not necessary at present to forward the last affidavits you sent me, to Washington, I thought it best to return them to you, so that you can get the signatures of Lombard Dusham and James B. Colfin attached to them before I sent them on to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs; as it will not do to go off half cocked; there must [p.3] not be a single point omitted, or left out, as by so doing it might be injurious to our title; and [a] little error, or defect, might defeat the very thing we are endeavoring to obtain; if McGrew had not put in his protest with his affidavits it would make no difference in the result; but as he has done so, and forwarded to the Department some strong affidavits from three of the surviving heirs, it is highly important that we shall not leave a stone unturned, or a single point neglected, so as to have all the matter in the best shape possible, preparatory to laying it before Department; for these reasons, (which must be very obvious to you) I think it most advisable to get the signatures of Dusham and Colvin to the inclosed affidavits; however if you think otherwise than I do, you can return them as they now are and I will forward them on to the Department the moment I get them back again.
If anything turns up, I will advise you the moment I am informed by my Friend who has the inside track, and will keep me thoroughly posted in everything that turns up in Washington
[p.4] until this business is fully settled up and the approval of the President is obtained.
Now as regards that fellow McGrew, and the rest of his ring, he as well as they in my opinoin are trying to Blackmail, andendeavoring to extort money form us; no doubt but they could all be bought off for a consideration, if we would offer it to him, or them; but I would not give them one cent, if it can possibly be avoided; you can see from McGrew's talk to you while at dinner in your house, he was on the make; if you should have any further conversation with him I think it would be good policy to talk sweet to him, until we get this matter of approval fixed up completely; he may be under the impression that he may be able to get some valuable and important testimony from you in the other matters you speak of in your letter, and under this belief may not oppose us as he would otherwise do, if he did not think he could use your testimony to his great advantage in his other matter.
Answer by return mail, remember me kindly to all, and believe me to be
Yours Truly,
Henry A. Dingee
