The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-16
iron THE REpuBLIc.l
indian Outrages

Indian Outrages
On the California and Ne,o Me1ico trails and on the
1exas and Neto Merico Jrontiers-Incursions Of
the Uhitsd States Indians into Merieo- Duty Of
Congress TO protect its citizens and carry Out
its treaty stipulations lcith DIerico.
NovEMBER IL, 1850.
The papers lately are filled with accounts of In
dian robbery and murder. This needs the prompt
attention of Congress; but this is not all-robbery
and murder are absolutely as nothing compared to
the making captives of women. Better a thousand
times were they put death, tortured with
all the details ofIndian barbarity
IL Is fact that the Camanches who nfest the
Texas and New Mexico borders, and whose inn
mense numbers have been reduced by smallpox,
measles, &c, lose no opportunities Of capturing
women IN order 10 keep zap their numbers.
The northern Indians. it is understood, have
rarely violated their female captives. How much
OF fiction there may be in this supposition know
not; il il, however, fiction that custom the
versc OF this prevails among the Camanches, Apa
ches and southern Indians generally.
The Camanches have now living with them mum
beers of captive Mexican women, who to avoid in
discriminate concubinage, have become the wives
or concubines Of chiefs warriors powerful enough
toproect them from the greater outrage. Imagine il
you can the necessity Of choice between such
horrors,
Texan women, should they fall into their hands,
will share the ate indeed, the writer of this
has high authority for saying that instances of this
sort haze taken place in regard to Texan females
Within few days past the papers give accounts
OF the capture of two young ladies of Texas sisters,
the elder about fifteen sixteen years of age, and
that the younger made her escape. The important
correction has subsequently been made that it
the elder who escaped. Fortunate young lady !!
May her sister be rescued before abe reaches the age
OF Fifteen or sixteen.
While Texas is crying aloud for protection, the
outrages committed on her border are a drop in
u bucket compared TO those Of which New Mexico
ia the victim. New Mexico is, all sides, sur
rounded by hostile Indians, who, in small bands
penetrate the country in every direction, crossing
the public roads, driving off cattle, numbering,
and carrying into captivity women and children.
Lawyers, in passing from court to court, go to-
| gether armed for mutual protection. During the
late elections, gentleman going from pre-
| cinct to another took with him cscort Of four
teen men for his protection. and this mere
| prudence. DIR. Connolly recently lost eighty mules
! from his train with merchandise from Indepen-
dcnce to Santa re- MIR. Coons on the San Antonio
and FL Paso trail, was last year hemmed in by
! Indians for several days, fearing to move. The
| settlement oil carson ana AT hdyhuo, pro-
! tected by troops, broken up and driven in,
Major Grier narrowly escaping with his life. A
herd Of mules, Of Mr.. Robert Brent, driven
Of from the grazing camp, ,oithin tloelUe miles Of
Santa Fe Another herd of Mr.. Briggs, from irith-
in four miles Of Santa Fe Sheep and goats, with
| in the last few years, have been driven off TO the
number of several hundred thousand. Very re-
Gently eight thousand, belonging TO Messrs. Jose
! Chavis, Henry Connoy, and Juan Otero, were
driven OFF at one time. Government stock beef
! cattle, and Dragon horses, have been driven oil
| from the neghborhood Of the posts. All the out
lets from New Mexico to Independence, Missouri,
| to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to San Antonio, Texas,
and to California, arc absolutely infested. few
months ago quartermaster's express, carrying
| the mail from Fort Leavenworth 10 Santa Fe, was
| cut off, and all who with it, eleven expert
enced we'll armed travellers, murdered their dead
! bodies were found in the road by the next party
passing from Santa Fs to Independence; and this
! il the usually travelled read short tins before
! this, and near the sane spot, Dir. White and the
males Of his family were murdered, and the fe-
males, Mrs. White and daughter and servant, car
red into captivity by the Ticsrillas. band of this
Apaches.
Now Mckee ia Immediately surrounded by Ma.
vajoes, Apschcs, and Eutshs with outer circle
Of Iipan., Camanches, Chennes, Arrspahoe., Cali
| lornia Indians, Sc, SC, &c.
IA far as destruction Of property is concerned
| the Navnjoos the chief enemies Of Now Mex.
ico tpheh for nearly three years has been part o,
me United Slater. A regiment Of dragons other
| mounted men ought TO put them down forever in
campaign Of twelve or eighteen months Thess
| Indians rich, possessing immsnse hocks and
herds-sheep, cattle, horses, and mules-the fruit
Of their industry in plundering the New Me1icans
| who, while they restrained from retaliating by
invading their enemies, not protected by troops
These Naysjoes cultivate the soil-raise wheat
corn, melons, fruits, &c, and have MANUFACTURES
They are. Of course, very vulnerable, and should b.
reduced ut once. This, ss has been said, could be
done by single vigorous campaign.
The principal resource Of the New Mericans al
this time ia grazing. and they raise sheep, cattle
horses, and mules for The Nevojoe', who. being now
reh plumber that they may be richer. Ills believed
there nre indiridual, among these Indians who, al
a New York or Philadelphia valuation, are worth
in stock $4,000 or $4,000 The blanket, they
manufacture possess rare qualities. doubt If on,
could be made in all New England. Several gal
Ions Of water may be tied in one and carried on
the horn Of the saddle for miles without leakage
| and they arc ornsncnted with black and blue
bands or stripes Of fact COLOR.
Besides being proprietors, agriculturists, and
manufacturers, they posses diplomatic obiities o.
high order. Since the entrance Of the Americans
in 1916 these Indians have entered into 6ve
air hsali6s Of peace with the United States, and,
cert in cropping season. carried hosiiiiiu all n,
fimf.
II the English government would make one o.
them charge 70 Nicaragua, II could carry out ia
design and acquire that country with half tho bus
| ter Chatfeld is making.
The deprodatons Of the Eutshs and Ap,ohes arc
fewer; their immediate wants supplied, they d.
not care for more.
The custom among all the Indians mentioned In
this oonmuuics ton, in respect TO captive iemsles
il tho same, or nearly 90. That Of the Tiosras
band Of the Apaohss, 10 Ne follows Read read
1 and shuddcr:
female captive is taken from the place Of hei
capture only far is consistent with safety, anc
then violated by all who we're engaged in the cap
turo She is subsequently taken to the village o.
their principal chief. denuded, and turned loose in
tie camp for the jsers and jbcs Of the squavs; snc
from that time forth she s at the disposition Of any
Iniscreant Of the band, unless che can and will IN