Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-12-31
The Indians Of the Frontier.


weakened tribes, or some startling exposition of
their helpless and suffering condition. Tho tribes
have been driven TO the western frontier as il be-
came necessary" for their own welfare, as they
were invariably told, aud that the white ma0 might
take possession Ofiheir homes and grounds,
which il was equuiiy necessary that he should
coyei, seize and hold The fact that the Indians
OF :he border have recently attacked the army
wagons Of gorernmeHt on their war 10 Sanie Fe,
killing and scattering the drivers aud escorts has
drawn on, the following statement Of the condition
ofthe ftonties, which is abridged from the ST Louis
Republican:
Tint there are Indians on our border 10 whom
the word and promise Of the United States govern
ment in solemn treaty made, has net been kept or
fulfilled, seems not TO be deabted, or denied by
these most familiar with thcir oOhdIGoR. That
there are other tribes in state Of actual starvation,
or mos, rapidly approaching il, is equally true
The great number Of troops, baggage wagons, SC,
&c, which have crossed the plains this season, in
the direction Of Benfs Fort and Santa Fe, have
frightened the game from the ,prairies. Along the
Missouri and the Platte the Numerous caravans of
emgrants to Oregon and California, including sew
eral thousand Mormons, have passed. Nearly all
ofthese caravans, from the time of crossing the
Kansas 10 the Grand Pass have relied on the
game and wild beasts OF the plains for subsis-
tence.
Ii is fact, well known.t to any one familiar with
the mountain life, that, as the phte man, with his
implements of civilization, progresses westward,
the buffalo and other game common TO the plains,
disappear We haveahe strongest assurances that
this fact, whether it springs from inherent law
of nature pertainingt to the animal, or from some
yet unexplained repugnance to the mode and man-
Eer ofthe travellers. has been exemplihed ills sea-
son. Along many parts OF the routes Of the emf.
grants, the buffalo, ahe antelope and the elk have
disappeared from places where they once abound
ed and on which the mountain hunter relied for a
supply.
II is certain that Il, by the progress of civiza a.
tion, the march Of emigration across The plains,
the game between the Kansas and Fori Laramie,
or the head waters Of the Platte river, is driven
away aud forced to find .paslurage in other and
different plains. aud the same results lake place in
the route TO SaHta Fe an imweasc number Of hu.
man beings. whose only support is 10 be found in
the chase, must PERISH be reduced to the utmost
exremites When this shall be the case, (aatl
that it is so, this season, we shavc good TO
believe If not to the full extent represented least
sufficiently to arouse the attention Of those whose
duty tits TO protect and guard against the conse-
quences) the mantle Of charity should be thrown
ever many Of those desperate deeds, TO which star
walton will drive all men, whether civilized or saw
age. The biting pangs Of hunger and the certain
prospect OF death are enough 10 drive any Que,
however refined he may be, to The commission OF
acts Of robbery aud cruelty.
To this picture we may add the violated faith Of
the government as manifested towards the Sir
Nations from New-York. These Indians have
known much Of the benefits and pleasures Of civil
izaion. They gave up the homes OF their fathers
the graves Of their ancestors and all the enjoyments
aud comioristo which they had become familiar,
and came west, TO new ground. on the faith and
promise Of the United States government to aid,
cherish aud protect them. But no sooner had their
removal been effected, than the word OF promise to
the ear was disregarded and forgotten Instead of
the houses, fields, mills, workshops, churches,
school.houses, land a majority Of them know the
value ofthe later) the agents and ratons promised,
they were conducted TO Wild uncultivated prairie
home, and there left to subsist as best they may
That these men, treated they have been, semi or
wholly educated, as they all are, should not leave
the impress oftheir wrongs upon the surrounding
nations, is not 10 be hoped for or expected
Some OF these indians. we know from brief
interview with them, have come from homes as
comfortable as those which civilized men usually
enjoys. They have given up ties, enjoyments, and
prospects-in word, ALTO follow the fate of their
people. This they have done, not from an insensi.
bity to the pleasures OF endearmenis OF civilized
society-for many ofthem are capable of enjoying
II in all IFS phases-but from sense Of duty to
their race and the peopleto whom they are bound
by the ties Of affection and consangunhy. They
did il on the faith and Icord Of the United States
government.
II isa mistaken notion to suppose thai men ca
pa6te of these sacrifices nre 10 be kept quiet by
solitary agent though he be armed with all the
parchment seals, and devices, which government
can give him. Nay, the presence Of military
force, though il might for short time keep down