The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-07
COMM INDICATIONS.
protect YOUR OWN"

ana reach thtlr hSaIlS'
Four great trails radiate towards the west from
Independence, Missouri. s
/. The Missouri ,iper 10 the north, into the coun-
tries of the Crows, Blackfeet, Grosyentre's, Blood
Indians, Assinibolns, and others-more than forty
ribes-rieh IN furs, wild, warlike, and numerous
The trade OF the. Missouri river embraces 10000
Indians.
2, The Oregon trail, passing by the Great Platte
to the South Pass. Along this are the kanzas,
Pawnees, Sioux, Sheyennes, HalEbreeds, AraPa-
hoes, Arickarees, ShoshOnees, Bannacks, and fu-
tas-35, 900.
Sd, The Msriean trail and It's fork 10 The Upper
.7rkansos. Upon this trail are the Osages, Paw
nees, Cumanches, Kiowas, AraPahoes, sheyennes,
Apacbes, Yutas-in all 4O,00O
4. The Tsras trail, passing for the most part
through the territories Of the Chocktaws, Chero-
kees and other located lndlans-45, OOO In numbeg.
These Indians all nomadic tribes Of the great
plains subsisting on buffalo and other game-as
elk, deer antelope, grsly bear beaver, otter, por-
cupine &c--and the natural roots, vegetables, and
fruits Of the country. The Yutas, Shoshonee, Ban.
mack Crow, and BIackfeet tribes, reside within the
Rocky mountains, but visit the plains to hunt, make
war, and plumber.
An immense commerce is carried on with these
tribes, and through the countries which they in.
habit.
This commerce may be arranged as follows:
LIST. The trade IN buffalo robes, buffalo calves,
furs, peltres horses, mules, buckskins, moccasins
ID. The .Msriean trade in specie, merchandise,
gold dust, robes, peltres, blankets, horses, mules,
Mexican saddles, brides, spurs, DC.
Sd. An immense emigration 10 Oregon and Cali
fornia, by trail, and 10 Texas by another. The
former periodical with the seasons, the latter con-
utant both vigorous well established, and annually
augmentng IN value and numbers
Under these separate heads, behold the value IN
money to the American people Of this commerce,
carried on by companies, partnerships, and lndvid-
uals
The supplies for the IEpnS are transport
ed in steamboats, up the Missouri, and in wagons
10 the base Of the Rocky mountains, along their
whole range, from New Mexico to the British
boundary line.
The capital employed amounts to Sl,250,0O0
The yield, in the aggregate, 10000
buffalo robes at 81 each, $50, 900
Other items, calves, buckskns, peltrles, $4,000
Added to these is the amount Of the annulties
paid to the Indians Of the frontier which returns
into the border States in exchange for merchandise
and cattle.
One thousand Americans are engaged directly
and indirectly in the prosecution Of this trade.
The MEXICAN TRADE, passing across the Indian
country, penetrates az far Mexico city, and Guy
mas, and Mazatlan, upon the Pacific. No doubt
upwards of 80 900 900 of capital and 200 men are
employed in this trade, which Is about TO receive
great impulse during the present season from the
drawback given by the last Congress.
This trade returns annually, besides robes, furs,
peltries,, mules, and horses, s750,0O0 in Mexican
silver coin and gold dust. The exports to Mexico
silks, woollen and cotton fabrics, shoes, cut
lery, wagons, pleasure carriages playiDg-cards,
American horses, DC.
Other routes from Arkansas and Texas also share
in this Mexican commerce, portion of the returns
Of which come home by
The EMIGRATION 10 Oregon passing into that ter
rtory by the sources of the Platte and Arkansas
rivers, has been in
In 1912, 1877 men, women, and children; in lS43,
675 men, women, and children, and 300 head of
cattle; in 1914, l,475 men, women and children, and
1900 head Of cattle and sheep; in lS45, 5000 men,
women, and children, and 500 head of cattle and
sheep.
These emigrating parties, together with smaller
ones by sea, from the mountains, and from Cali!or
mia, make the .amsrean population Of Oregon about
5000; which, added to 1850 British, gives the
strength Of the phitC population Of that territory
The emigration TO Teras has been a yet many
times greater than that to Oregon, and great traffic
attends the passage Of so many parties through the
Indian countries.
Behold, then, a mighty commerce in existence
beyond the western border of the Union, unknown
to, and unprotected by its laws its military arm
This commerce, perfectly legitimate and Infinitely
important, has maintained itself, and increased in
the face of every inimioal element that could OPP
press and throttle it.
The government has steadily oppressed and en-
barrassed it, both by studied neglect and active
hostility. 1t has received the notice Of Congress
only to meet sarcasm and contemptuous treatment.
During quarter Of a century has this struggle to
maintain its existence been kept up. During this
gloomy period have more than | $50 chivalrous
Americans, thus engaged, fallen beneath the scalp
ing knife OF the savages and the perfdy of the
Mexicans and British Unavenged, unprotected
and uncared for, do their bones whten beneath the
sun and rain, scattered promiscuously amongst the
wild beasts like which they have been slaughtered
Against this perpetual murder and piracy has the
poU MT pnl, .1tnaI ,s.~.
shield
Let Congress know, however, that this vilIanous
neglect and hostility has proved abortive to sup
press such enterprise, and let il henceerh cease at
least to prosecute!
The Pacific ocean has been reached at three points
in Mexico, California, and Oregon. The continent
is spanned by these thoroughfares of travel and
commerce, and the two united by three belts
trade N ships upon the Pacific ocean itself has
commenced at the terminus Of the Oregon route.
Why are cordons Of forts and troops staked along
the western edge of Missouri and Arkansasp Ia
this to sceurge back American citizens, or To pro-
tect them from without Ii is on the great plains
and amongst the Rocky mountains that our citi-
zens massacred, their property practically torn
from them, and their commerce crushed. 1t is here
that 200 900 equestrian savages perpetually scour
ing territory from north to south, prey upon
citizens and rub their trading parties. Here is the
place of danger and destruction and here the necess-
ty for protective police Of laws and agencies and
"a
case upon the border line, but many thousand citi-
zens are cutvating the soil and driving trade the
other edge Of the continent 500 miles beyond this
foolish burlesque upon military protection
But il is not Of Americans alone, cheaply esteem
ed may be- that the blood cries to heaven ex-
ecration Of this cold neglect Whole hecatombs of
Indians annually fall in the mutual Of these
numerous tribes. With them a stranger and an
enemy arc SYNONYMOUS. The scalp of q stranger is
II trophy second only to that Of an hereditary foe
both hang together over the orgies of the war
dance.
II is proposed, indeed, TO remedy these great evils
and measures TO that end are before Congress. But
Jet us understand the country to be overlooked and
Judge how meagre and stngy are these yet un.
matured propositions.
The great plains Of America form belt of ter.
ritory between our present western border and the
crest Of the Rocky mountains, 800 miles in width,
and passing lcngthwise through the continent,
from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Two
hundred thousand Indians, possessing horses and
buffalo, live nomadc life within this region. These