The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-03

1
accommodations for this city, TO revision Of
the laws for the government of the Department,
the need of placing the Assistant Postmasters
General upon the same footing in respect to
salary as the heads of Bureaus in other De-
partments, and to the zeal and assduity with
which the officers and clerks of the Department
have discharged their duties.
Abstract OF the Report of the Secretary OF
| War.
The Secretary of War, in submitting his
Report of the operations of his Department
during the past year, states that the defence of
| Texas, New Mexico, and the Mexican terri
tory adjacent to our own, from the incursions OF
hostile Indian tribes has chiefly engaged the
attention of the Department. These tribes are
actuated less by hostility to the whites than
by motives of plumber. The country is we'll
adapted to these marauding expeditions. As
infantry is of little service, he recommended in
| his last report an additional mounted regiment,
equipped specially for this service. Congress,
not having adopted this recommendation, the
Department had to make such a disposition of
its forces as would most effectually protect our
own territory and fulfil our treaty obligations
| to Mexico; and prompt measures were accord
ingly taken to concentrate all the troops that
could be spared on the confines of Texas and
| New Mexico. The California and Oregon In
dams being ofan unwarlike character, and AMIGA
bly, disposed, it was thought the regiment of
mounted rifiemen could be dispensed with on the
Pacific, and it was accordingly ordered to Texas,
and its commander, Brevet Major General
SMITH, placed in command of the 9Th military
department, while Brevet Brgadier General
| HITCHcoCK succeeded him on the Pacific
| In the interval between the death Of Brevet
Major General BROOKE and the arrival of
Brevet Major General SMITH, Brevet Briga-
der General HARVEY had displayed his accus-
toned activity in arresting the incursions of
the Indians, and the good effect of his measures
are already apparent.
| With the object of overawing the fierce and
nsolent tribes in the northern portion of Texas,
and Of protecting the emgrants who take that
route to Texas, New, Mexico, or California, the
Secretary deemed it advisable to establish chain
of military posts on that frontier. The fifth re-
giment Of infantry, already high up the Red
river and the Arkansas, were ordered further
into the interior to establish chain of posts in
the direction of the route known as 'sMarcy's
route" and the seventh regiment of infantry to
occupy the stations abandoned by the fifth.
! In New Mexico the Indians committed their
| depredations within few miles of the military
posts with impunty; to remedy which Brevet
Colonel SUMNER was ordered to the command
of that department. He arrived at Santa Fe
in July last, and commenced making more
judiclous arrangement of the military posts,
after which he set cut on an expedition against
the powerful tribe of the Navajos, and the re-
suit of his expedition is not yet known
Experience has shown that the most effectual
way to protect our settlements is to overawe
the Indians by a constant display of military
force. For this reason the commanding officers
in Texas and New Mexico were directed to re-
move their stations near the frontiers, and
strong hopes are entertained that, when their
plans shall have been fully developed, the In
dams will be disposed to make treaties and OBJ
serve them.
The United States have endeavored to fulfil
to their fullest extent their treaty obligations
towards Mexico. 1t was never contemplated
that the entire expense and responsibility of de-
Tending her territory should devolve on us. The
language of the treaty does not admit Of it, and
ifit did it would require an impossibility The
United States have no right to station troops
within Mexico. All that we can do is to make
common cause with her, to chastise the tribes
who commit wrongs upon her, and compel
them to make restitution of Mexican prisoners
and property in fine, to guard the interests of
Mexican citizens as carefully as we do our
own. Our efforts, too, must be seconded by
corresponding efforts on her own part.
The number, vigilance, activity, and courage
of our troops, and the difference in the charac-
ter of the inhabitants of the two countries, tends
to drive these marauders from our border into
that of Mexico, where the feebleness Of the
Federal authority enables them to carry on
their depredations with impunity.
The State of Sonora is said to have suffered
the most-to send sufficient force to which
would be attended with difficulties almost in
superable. A post, however, has been esiab-
lished at the junction of the ella aad the Colo
RADIO, and the feasibility of establishing another
higher up the ella is under examination by the
commander of the Pacific division.
The depredations in Sonora are committed
chiefly by the Apaches and Navajos but it
must not, however, be supposed that the In
dams that infest the Mexican settlements all
reside within our limits, for some of them have
their habitual haunts within the limits of
Mexico.
There is reason, the Secretary says, to be-
heve that many Of the rumors of ravages have
been grossly exaggerated, and some Of them
entirely fabricated An idea that this Govern
ment was bound by treaty to indemnify citizens
of that country for losses by Indian depreda-
tons has, in some instances, caused tales to be