Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-06

be practicable and expedent to establish one or more
posts higher up the Ga His report that subject
yet been received 1t has been fully ascertained
however that maintain nconsderabe force in
that region would be attended with expense
These depredatios in Sonora committed chiefly by
the Apaches and the Nayaos-he tribes that
troublesome in Texas and New Mexico The troops
employed in the defence of settlements arc>
therefore, indirectly aiding in the defence of Sonora for
wecan succeed in compelling these tribes to make
ties and to fulfil them the will be conducive
to the protection of the Mexican territory Of our
It must not however, be supposed that the Indians tat
infest the Mexican settlements all reside within limits
1t is difficult assign any definite boundaries wander
ing tribes who subsst almost entirely BY the chase
herds of cattle which they drive before them in their mir
gratons well known that's of them have thec
habitual haunts within the limits Of Mexico.
There strong reasons believe that the vague
that have reached this country of ravages
mtted by Indians the Mexican States have been grossly
exaggerated sometimes entirely fabricated An idss
seems to have gone abroad among the people Of thaS
country that this Government bound BY its rsstg
might sustain losses by depreations Of the Indians and
from information TINT has reached the Department there
be doubt that in instances tales Of depreds
ions have been invented with view Of bringing fcti-
tious claims, for damages against the Government
The Indians west of the Rocky Mountains repre-
sented to be less warke in character than those the
eastern side OF the continent and, until recently had
manifested unfrendly feelings towards the white
tiers in their neghborhood Several outbreaks, however,
have within few months past occurred both in Caiifor
MIA and Oregon There to believe that In
instances the Indians have been goaded to these acts
Of hostility by the conduct of people Treaties
have recently been made with Of these tribes which,
if they are faithfully observed part, and if the
white inhabitants compelled respect the boundaries
of the territory assigned to them, will go far towards
concing this unfortunate to their ate and prevent
ing future outbreaks recommend, therefore, that the
lawsrestctng intercourse with the Indians and encroac
ments their lands be rgidy enforced, and that
cessay more stringent enactments be passed for that
purpose.
1t would not be safe, however, rely any pacific
policy however wise and just for the protection of
fellowcitizens in that remote region. Since the with
drawal OF the regiment of mounted remen, the military
force the Pacific is extremely small by the returns
OF the Aduant General appended to the report OF the
GeneranChie it appears that the entire force stationed
the Pacific amounted at the last return to only
hundred and thirty-sx This force is deemed
trey inadequate for the protection of the inabtants
particularly of Oregon The Governor Of that Territory
has represented this fact and has urged increase OF
the force stationed within it, The at the dis
posal Of the Department do not enable it to comply with
this demand.
new regiment of mounted men. The withdrawal Of the
regiment of mounted rifemen from the Pacific has, to
extent diminished the necessity of creating add
tona regiment Of that description Of force that
try not peculiarly adapted cavalry and its place
well be supplied by infantry Nevertheless, by the
port Of the GeneralinChief it will be that he
sders not only this additional regiment of cavalry but
also increase in the rank and file of the infantry and
artillery as ndspensaby necessary While feel some
hesitation in urging upon Congress any addition to the
force the frontier where the support Of troops is at
tended with such enormous EXPENSE cannot but ac-
knowledge the force of his remarks and the weight that IS
due Y his S hope hsrsFs tAAt ~
hq1ns ~ A. feEe -.
/ Az 2SooS aAg a fHe dsasr a y$
furnish effective force 0f not more tfxi4 6SdU
When is considered that this small force is scattered
frontier Of several thousands Of miles in extent its
insuf6ciency will be apparent.
In my last annual report adverted to the enormous
increase in the expense Of supporting the army and the
causes that produced it. These causes are principally
First That, has been already stated, than
hale ,,l,o1a
tier, and, far expenses concerned may be
sidered as in active service in time Of war.
Second That the military posts the frontier
formerly navigabe rivers but now, the
ay either far in the interior Of the country the
Pacific and consequently only be reached by
land journey of hundreds Of miles, by voyage OF
several thousand.
The following is list Of what most remote
posts in 1S45 and their respective distances from nav
cation:
Fort Smelling accessible by steamboats,.
Fort LeayenWorth do do