Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-12-18
Esenort of the Secretary Of war.

Army during the last year, and ITS present
condition.
The protection Of our sonth and western
frontier of the Mexican territory adjoining our
own. against the incursions of hostile Indians,
has engaged the attention of the Department
The ssvares are actnated not so much ny hos
tility TO the whites as motives oil plunder.-
The character of the country in which they |
live ma kes it exceedingly difficult to guard
against the ravages, or pursue them 10 pun
Iishment. Congress having failed to provide !
"a mounted regiment at its last session, as ma |
ny troops adapted to the service required as
could be spared from other quarters, were con-
centrated upon the frontier, to operate against
the Indians hss-
The Indians Of California and Oregon ap-
pearing unwarlike, and comparatively HARM
less, the Regiment of Mounted Riiemen was
Withdrawn from the Pacific and ordered to
i Texas. In the interval of several months
between the death OF Brevet Major Samuel
Brooke, and the arrival of Brevet Major Gen
erai Smith in Texas the command of that
Department devolyed upon Brevet Brig Gen.
Harvey, who displayed great and etfclentac-
tiYity in arresting the incursions Oft the Indians
!, Withthe double object ofoycraVlng the fierce
tribes occupying the northern part OF Texas,
!, and fafording protection toenigrants, chain
t of military posts was established on that from
tier. In order to chastise and hold IN check
the Indians Of New Mexico, who had become
Exceedingly troublesome, Brevet Col Sum
f Iner was ordered to that Department, and set
out in July last with portion Of his command
t on an expedition into the country OF the Ma
vaios, powerful tribe which had spread ter
ror in Texas, New Mexico, and Sonora
} The result of the expedition is not yet known.
Experience has shown that the most efIectual
way to protect our frontier settlement is to
overawe the Indians by q constant display Of
2 military force; for this reason, among others,
, the military stations in Texas and New Mex
iso have been removed as near as possible TO
3 the frontiers. 1882
Thus the United States have endeavorcd to
fulfil their treaty obligations with Mexico.-
1t surely never was intended that We should
incur the expense and responsibility Of deten
) ding her territory from these lnvaslons. The
2 language of the Treaty admits of no such
Z construction, and if it did, it would be impos-
: sit!e 10 carry it out as we have no right TO
station troops within her limits. Allw can
10 is to ma ke common cause with her, chastIse
: the depredations when possible, and in trea-
tise with them guard Mexican interests as
i well as our own. Our efforts Will be truitless
: however; unless Mexico co-operates with US,
q for our own military movements necessarily
. tend to drive the Indians towards the frontiers
: Of that country. We have brave, impetuous,
n courageous froatiersmen to repel Indian iuva-
G sions; our Mexican neighbors have nothing
: that deserves the name of Militia, and little
e daring intrepidity. The difference in charac-
e ter undoubtedly tends to lead the savage5 to
D commit their outrages upon Mexican territory.
u The feebleness Of the Federal authority In
$ Mexico also impairs her influence among the
n Indians, who know no right but power, nor
: motive other than fear of It's exercise. With a
Y view TO the protection Of Sonora, as far as
possible, 4 fort has been established at the
d junction Of Gia and Colorado. The prevail
II ing idea that the United States are bound to
n indemnify Mexican citizens for losses 5y the
g Indians has undoubtedly led to gross exagge-
! ration in accounts of the inVGsions
: The indians west Of the Rocky mountains
y are less war-ike; but several outbreaks have
If occurred in California and Oregon. Treaties
d recently concluded if faithfully Observed on
J. our part viii probably prevent further trouble.
e Il would not be safe however, to rely entirely
on any pacific policy for the protection ofthose
t remote regions. The entire military force on
1
t Inadequate. An increase OF the rank and file
: OF the Infantry and the Artillery is reeommen-
If ded, as we'll as an additional regiment OF Cav
y airy. The entire Army force-is numbered
g at l0,53S, which gives an effective force of
S $500. E re
e The increase in the expense of supporting
:. the Army is mentioned, and the causes are
n stated. The increase resulted from our new
I,o
e to 81, $50, ,7O7 -.
;, After an enumeration of measures adopted
g to curtail the expenses of the Army the result
c is shown in reduction of 81, ,16I ,492 10
Other contemplated reforms require the aid
IS of legislation.
/ The enormous expense of maintaining a
}, large portion of the regular Army on the
: frontier must continue, if the force is main
: tanned. 1t is recommended with view to
i reducing these expenditures that the necessi-
y ty for regular forces be diminished by encour-
i aging the formation of local militia in the
e frontier territories, by distributing arms among
IS the inhabitants.
: Both policy and humanity require that we
should endeayor to stop Indian depredations
n by conclliatory measures, instead of the ter
e ror of our arms. Starvation, forced upon the
u sdFaSes ny the duFaHCemeht OF the WhlteS up
e on their hunting grounds, ,lhas frequently in
stigated their outrages. The U. S. as the
owners of the public domain have always ac-
ted on the principle that the aboriginal race
: had the right ofoccupancy in the soil and have
: extinguished their claim to the land of pur-
/ chase when required for use. Texas, on the
contrary, as the owner Of all vacant land in
her limits, acknowledges no such right, and
f has laid it off and proceeded to sell it at once
+ IA course well calculated to alarm and ex-
asperate the Indians, and to bring about col
lisions with the whites
. The condition of the West Point Academy,
: the National Armories, and the operations OF
the various Bureax in the Department are Sc
Verallv alluded TO and cotnmon1ed An ,Jd;