The Arkansas banner., 1843-12-23
ER0NTIER nEFENCE.

l '4'N immediate frontier, makes it our duty, and a duty we most cheerfully perform, to keep it before our readers, and to demand, as best VIC may, proper attention to it, by all who have, ill any way, the direction and control off
 By the policy of the General Government, large tribes of Indians have been placed just beyond, and contiguous to, our Western bor- der. It is not our purpose to Ego behind the record" and discuss the wisdom, justice, or humanity, of this policy. The evil, for evil t is to all parties, exists. Its meioration is, now, the only proper subject of discussion. In what does it consist? The mutual en- mity which these tribes of Indians, and, in some instances, parts of the same tribe, en- certain for each other, is the frequent cause of deeds of violence, disorder, and bloodshed, which, more or less extensively and unfavor- ably, affect the interest, comfort, and safety, of our frontier settlers. Besides this, the he reditary hostility of these tribes towards our race, which the policy of our Government has tended to increase, rather than to miti- gate, cannot fail to render the unavoidable in- tercourse between the two sides of the bor- der, prolific source of trouble Border life, under the most favorable circumstances, and where both parties are of similar habits, is ever precarious, and liable to disturbance On our frontier 1t is attended with more dan ger, perhaps, and more difficulties, than in any other portion of the world.
 Upon these considerations, the inquiry arises, end demands an answer too, what should be done to meliorate the evil, to les sen this danger, and to remove these diGicul- ties?
 The practical reply hitherto, made by the Government, to this inquiry, has been the construction of q few forts, and the quarter ing of q few troops, along the frontier. The quiet, for time maintained, inspired those charged with this important interest, with an idea of fancied security and permanent peace; and, as a consequence, the further construc- tion of forts has been arrested, those in the process of construction have been left unf- nished, and the Dragooas, the only really eff ficient corps for frontier service, have been dismounted, and thus rendered almost useless. For some time past, the means of defence llave been miserably delieient-wholly ina dequate to the interests requiring protection, and the dangers to be averted. Indeed, in the estimation of the settlers themselves, who are necessarily the best judges in the case, the frontier may be regarded us defeacezess, so far as the means furnished by the Govern nlcnt are concerned.
 Under this condition of things, our frontier settlers have, in every practicable way, pro- tested against this neglect of the Government, and loudly and earnestly demanded that just regard should be paid to their exposed condition and that more troops, amounting to something more like adequate defence against threatened danger, should be station-
 
 be competent to active and efficient service. These Femonstranees and demands have like wise been strongly urged by the Executive of our State. Hitherto, it has seemed, with out effect. No movement appeared to have heen made, in relation to them, by those in authority. { Recently, however, something seems about to be done. Intelligence from the Head Quarters of the Army throws some gratifying light upon these probable opera lions. This intelligence we are enabled to lay before our readers in the belief that it will prove interesting,
 Governor Y ELL has been in correspondence with General ScoTT, on this subject, and is just in receipt of a letter from that officer, in answer to his urgent communication This letter is dated December 9th; and his Excel lency has kindly furnished Us the following extracts Genl Scorr writes-.sI take the liberty to enclose, as reply in part, the fol- lowing extracts from my annual report, which, no doubt, will be printed with the Presidents Message;
 Eriracts from Ac Report:
 "The only troops, beyond company, or part of one (to guard important Arsenals) stationed any where in our interior, IS to be found at Jefferson Barracks, near s. Louis, as the Hesfera ReSerre For little more than year, sixteen companies, equally of the 3rd and 4th regiments of Infantry, have been held in that position-each regiment having thrown out two companies upon the from tiers.
 ''Jefierson Barracks may be assumed as the interior centre of cordon, commencing at the head of Lake Superior, and extending be- yond our settlements, to the Gulf of Mexico That cordon is partially (aot sufficiently supported by military posts, with small gar risons, consisting of from one to screen com panies each-furnished by the Dragons, the lst, 9th, and 7th regiments of Infantry and inc Rifp reyinopf toUpfhnr with tho fo,lr