The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-26


vice and that the ofone hundred thousand
dollars be- and the same hereby Tor the Pur-
pose of carrying this act into effect
Mr. HOWARD proposed 10 amend the amendment by
striking out all alter the enactng clause and inserting
provision authorize the President Of the United States
70 enlist two additional regiments Of mounted rangers for
the protection OF the Indian frontier TO serve as long as
i he believes the exlgencies OF the service REQUIRE
j Mr. BAYLY then addressed the House.
i Mr. HOWARD said: The first question which presents
itself to the House is, whether this bill shall be acted
at the present tme be referred to the COMMITTEES o.
the Whole, and placed upon the calendar, where i will
sleep for the remainder OF the session. II there is any
subject before Congress which demands immediate and
efficient action, il is that OF our frontier defences.
Sir, the latest adyices assure us that the Indians are
down upon the settlements in force There has been
fight Laredo with the United States troops in which
officer Of the army Lieut. Hudson) was killed. Every
mail brings OF some fresh murder depreciation
Col Johnson, an accomplished officer OF the topogaph
ical engineers now engaged in exploring the western
frontier OF Texas, writes from the Rio Grande TO friend
in this city, that such is the extent Of these depedations
and such the boldness OF the savages that he never
during the whole in Mexico lay down at night in
much danger as now, on the western frontier within our
ow n borders ss
All accounts concur in proving that we are on the eve
/ OF general Indian war The Indian agent In Texas
appointed by the administration, has written here his
opinion TO that effect gallant officer Of the ne dis
from the vicinity OF FL Paso, on the LIST OF January,
says:
We have had no Indian predaons lately They un
force this froniernfantry Of little use. for the
morale effect Of the presence q troops You may lay i
% be seoersty io.pyed before they will respect rs and
dsss from their predatory attacks t sanao Yanisa them
ments of light cavalry should be raised
Such, s the opinion Of distinguished officer Of the
infantry Since that letter written, hosttes have
occurred all along the frontier from New Mexico TO near
the mouth Of the Rio Grande The House cannot be fully
apprzed Of the extent Of these depredatons The legis
aure of Texas at Its last session. in report OF both
houses stated that hundred and four PERSONS within
the past year. had been killed, wounded carried into
captivity V By the he Indians in Texas alone
Mr CONGER asked 4 how many troops were on the
/ Mr. HOWARD. believe 1900; but shall come to
that branch Of the subject presently The President and the
Of things on our frontier; and yet the Executive has
failed to give any adequate protection by calling out
sufficient volunteer force, although he has ample power
| Mr.. BURT (Mr. n yieding) said that he was bound
to say, in justice to the Secretary OF War; that he had
manifested strong interest IN giving protection TO the
western frontier and had recommended the mounting OF
the infantry, which he also understood bad the
appreciation OF the President.
Secretary Of War; that he has and felt The necessity
Of mounted force for this service My own opinion
sand have reasons for it satisfactory 10 myselfthat
dice asans. Volunteers is great that he has decsIed
positively that he would call rangers into
vice. have strong convictions that we are indebted 10
the wisdom and mness OF Gen. Brooke for the fact that
have had four OF five companies OF rangers service
for the protection OF the frontier, and that he has kept
them there against the opnion OF the Executive, Up
to this time the responsibility OF the blood that has been
shed upon the frontiers is the head OF Gen. Taylor,
in not providing, he had the power to do, ample
mounted force But hereafter the responsibility will be
upon Congress- this side Of the House, il il defeats
necessary measure of protection This is subject
which will bear delay, unless you intend TO tre with
the lives OF American citizens.
And now. sir come TO the provisions Of the bill 1t
is well known that the President opposed to anything
but the increase OF the rank and le and perhaps the
mounting OF the infantry. Sir, | opposed to that
a n
and the necessities OF the country. II involves large
expense without any corresponding benefit What rs the
character OF the foe TO which this force is 10 be opposed
The western prairie Indians all mounted, their
rors irel mounted. who fight and commit their depreda
ons horseback, and the most expert riders IN the
world not excepting the Arabs OF the desert We have
foe, except the savages rendering agenea increase OF
the army necessary. Why, then, Increase the infantry
and the artillery, when we have now more Of that force
than is OF any utility for the service The infantry
perfectly useless beyond the immediate neghborhood
OF the posts The Indians come done rapidy-eommit
murdersdesoy and steal propery-lay waste the set
emens and retreat with their capves al full speed
horseback II is impossible for foot soldiers TO come up
with such foe. unless you can prove that man on
foot can oul-run well mounted, disposed
10 assert, with General Taylor that infantry have been
good troops against Indians ever since the days OF Mr.
Jefferson
its correspondence with General Brooke and the officers
under his command, II will prove that they have
urged the necessity OF mounted iorce upon the admin
isiraion. and The propney Of employing rangers am
quite that of them have officially expressed
that opinion To the department This plan OF mounting
the infantry does with the appreciation OF many
OF the experienced officers OF the army the frontier
II is well known that Americans and western will
not enlist Tor five years 10 the regular army in the time OF
peace. The result OF the increase OF the rank and file
and mounting the infantry will be, that shall get into
this branch Of The service large number OF foreign
ers who know nothing Of frontier lfe and who will be
unable 10 ride Horsemanship is an accomplishment
quired in youth You cannot take who know moth.
ing about managing Lorse and even by long practice
dr them 10 render them efficient against expert
riders With such men. your dispatches from the held
OF battle will be nothing than account of riders
thrown, limbs broken, horses lost and enemies escaped
II has been demanded how many troops there are IN
Texas. Sir, there are quite enough, VI they were efh-
cen cavalry well mounted rangers but as IL is they
are nearly useless because mainly infantry. The gov.
enment has arranged the character OF troops on the
frontier that the treasury is subjected heavy expense
without any corresponding benefit or protection. Any
amount OF money IL extrasagant when spent in manner
which must prove useless nearly 80. may vote for
this BILL inadequate s, IL nothing better be had
II may afford relief by overawing the Indians by
appearance OF force Yet from the
on the frontier, the infantry have not had that effect II
10 unjust TO place brave men, who have distinguished
themselves as infantry have done in the Mexican
war, in such position. You compel them to witness
depredaons and barbarites which they cannot punish
Such state of things has the further unfortunate effect
OF bringing our power into contempt in the eyes Of all the
western tribes II will not prove economy in the end
Notwithstanding the infantry now stationed at Laredo,
some weeks since received petition, signed by large
number OF the citizens, stating that their farms and
chos were broken up, and the population driven into
town 10 such extent that the cultivation OF the soil
had nearly ceased and that there was actually scarcity
OF food, with prospect o crop. They asked 10 be