Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-09-24
THE CAMANCHE INDIANS.

4
The September number of the American Re-
view, just issued contains able article on 'War
with Mexico In it the following remarks oc.
cur the Camanche Indians:
"The government has studiousIy endcavored
10 represent this war Involving ouly our (alas
The Texan) right TO the territory in question:
leaving out of view entirely the InGian claim 10 the
same territory. OF course the Indian, though an
original, Is an obsolete claim, aad nothing could
be more offensive to the eyes of Locofoco- exam.
ism than the assertion Oft. We do not propose
to assert any thing other Than facts however un-
pleasant they may chance to be to 'the Democra.
cy." The Texans wresied their territory first
foot by foot, from the tribes as they adyan.
ced into the interior, tribe after tribe went dow
before them IN their westward march, even to Bex.
ar or San Antonio. Here Texas politicians were
baffied. The country westward TO the mountains
was in The hanGs of The Camanches, aud this
country must be obtained at whatever risk A.
convention of the chiefs was called, 10 meet a,
San AntonIo. They came, in good faith, with
their squaws aud children, 10 meet The pale faces
Wha, was the result? Like wild beasts 10 pen
they were slaughtered, m1n, woman and child, one
or two exceptions, 10 the square of Bexar! and
The exceptions were those who lived in spite of
BULLETS And these are the people we are 10 treat
amlcably with, and who.io use the language of |
late correspondent ofthe Union, ..are not so very
formidable ~ II is by the publication of such doc
lmenls That the Administration are trying to blind
he eyes ofthe people. This person, who has ev-
IDENTIFY been on The ground. endeavogs to make it |
'Ppear that IN the event of war, these savage
ri6es are to be regarded as comparatively insig-
IIhcant. We claim to know something about
hat region ofthe world ourselves, and Sc saw that
70 assertion from p1rty claiming Reers9na! kneMI
his. So far from being true, the Camanches are
he most numerous and relentless of the savage
oes with whom we have been compelled TO dis /
ute our territory, and in the event of their being
urnished with arms, must prove altogether the
most formidable! As yet, they have few guns a.
longst them, and their principal weapons are the
he lance and bow I; out they have become accus-
,med to firearms of any kind. particularly since
be Texan Santa Fe expedilion) and are peculiar
agacious and expert in awaiting themselves ofany
improvements in the art Of war which may fall ih
leir way. To superficial observers as the
correspondent of the Union-they appear to be
owardly, from the fact that they are wise enough
know the InferIority of their own weapons and
eep cautiously out OF range oflhose of the Amer
'ans. Like all people whose trade is war, they Ii
now the value of a warrior, and do not wiltally O
SIX the loss of one In all the heroic virtues and
nergies of the savage, no people ever existed
Iperlor to them. Their tacucs are exceedingly
ibtle they prefer the Parlhian mode of flying I
ght, and are wonderfully quick in their nance
vres. So far as activity and skill in horseman. 2
Zip are concerned they are the best cavalry the
orld has ever seen, not excepting the Mameluke,
nd they mounted Oh horses of the same
rain, the genealogy Of which is as carefully S
uarded as by any Nomad Of Sahara. They are, -
word, the Arabs of The west; mounted on
orses of the same blood, ofthe same unconquer. 4
bic game and speed, and are possessed of far
ore vindctve ferocity than characterizes their I
riental brothers. They number from from if a
en- to trenty thousand scarriors! Since the mas. {
lcre al San Antonio, they have been righteously I
lie sworn aud uncompromising foes of our race.
hey have lost all faith in US, and neuer can be
ropltlaed again--at least many years must in
rvene before they will regain confidence. On =
eir swift and untiring horses. they can sweep
own from the valleys among the spurs from the 1
ocky Mountains, devastate the lowlands, and I
'treat to their Businesses with impuniIy. 1t will
ways be accident when our horsemen sue. =
ED in overtaking Them. They require nothing a
IT arms to make them fearfully formidable. In /
lse of war, how long will II before arms are
aced in their hands % ~ $3.50 s-i 80 z-t r
n
= From the Chicago Democrat. Sep. Sd.
From the Oregon Emigrants. =