more influence on Congress and the Indian Department. Mrs.
Bland and myself being much pleased with the capital, resolved
also to locate there and make it our permanent home. We
were influenced in this matter, also, by our desire to continue
to furnish our friend, Colonel Meacham, a home with us, that
we could still look after his health, and assist him in his work.
But we were of opinion, also, that Washington would prove
a pleasant place of residence, and as good a field as any in
which to pursue our professional and literary labors.
In the summer of 1879, the Secretary again sent him to Indian Territory to pay the Indians the annuities due them. This time he was gone but six weeks. During his absence on these occasions, Mrs. Bland and the writer had charge of his paper. In the spring of 1880, the Ute Commission was organized, and recognizing his eminent fitness for the posi- tion, Secretary Schurz, without solicitation, placed Colonel Meacham upon it. Again leaving his paper in the hands of his assistants, he left Washington for the Los Pinos Agency, Colorado, the home of the Uncompaghre Utes, the largest division of the Ute Nation. On meeting here and holding a preliminary council with the Indians, the Commission divided, four members going to the Southern Ute Agency, and leaving Commissioner Meacham to manage the Uncompaghres alone. He had about completed the work of enrolling the Indians, and securing the number of signatures to the agreement re- quired by the act of Congress, when the whole country was thrown into a frenzy of excitement by the wanton murder, by a drunken white man, of Johnson, one of the most popular of the young Ute chiefs, and the lynching of the murderer, Jackson, by a party of Indians and white settlers.
Commissioner Meacham had no connection with the affair, save that at the risk of his life he urged the Utes to let the law 7 take its course, and not execute summary vengeance on Jack- son. His efforts were successful with the Indians then present, but another party who had not been in the council took the prisoner from the officers who had him in charge, and killed
