The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-06
OFFICIAL.
ointments by the Presid


in NAV, the PRESIDENT, agreeably to the sew
eral acts of Congress in such case made and
provided, designated the following Justices of
the Peace to be members of the Levy Court for
Washington county, d. c., for the term of one
year. viz:
HssrY NAYLop and CHARLES H. WILrBERexR,
for that part of the county east of Rock Creek and
without the limits of Washington;
CHARLxs r. BELT and JOSHUA PIERCE, for that
part west of Rock Creek and without the limits of
Georgetown;
LEWIS CARBERY, WILLIAM r. WOODWARD, and
RoszRr WHITE, for that part lying within the linn
its of Georgetown; and
SAMUEL DRURY, BENJAMIN X. MoRsELL, JOHN
F. Cox, and JAMES CRASpELL for that part lying
within the limits of the city of Washington.
The Defence OF our Fr0ntier-the Adminis-
tration, and Domocra Mstoritics In Con-
grsss.
We have heretofore alluded to the fact that
every new arrival from CALIFORNIA, New
MEXICO, and Texas, brings us additional in
telligence of Indian outrages and there is rea
son to fear that the white settlements will be
still more exposed to them during the coming
summer. The SECRETARY OF WAR has avail
ed himself to the utmost of all the means Of de-
fence and protection at his disposal, but there is
no doubt that those means will be altogether in
sufficient.
This subject was brought to the attention Of
Congress by President FILLMORE in his annual
message. He reminded them that TEXAS and
New MKxIco are surrounded by powerful tribes
Of Indians, who source of constant terror and
annoyance to the inhabitants. Separating into
small predatory bands, and always mounted,
they overrun the country, devastating farms, de-
stroying crops, driving off whole herds Of cattle,
and occasionally numbering the inhabitants, or
carrying them into captivity. The great roads
leading into the country are infested with them,
whereby travelling is rendered extremely dan
gerous, and immigration is almost entirely ar
rested The Mexican frontier, which, by the
18th article of the treaty of Guadalupe Hi
dalgo, we are bound to protect against the In
dams within our border, is exposed TO these
incursions equally with our own. The mill
'taryf force stationed in that country (altiough
forming a large proportion Of the army is
represented as entirely inadequate to our o,en
protection and the .fulflment Of our treuty
aip,llations ,cith MEXICO. The principal de-
6ciency is in cavalry; and recommend that
Congress should, at as early period as prac-
ticable, provide for The raising Of one or more
regiments of mounted men,"
For further suggestions on this subject, and
others connected with our domestic interests
and the defence of the frontier, the PRESIDENT
referred Congress to the reports of the SEcRE-
rARY OF THE INTERIOR and Of the SECRETARY
OF WAR.
On turning to the report Of Mr. STUART, we
find our relations with the Indian tribes pressed
upon the prompt and earnest attention of the
PRESIDENT. The annexation of Texas and the
recent treaty with Mexico were stated to have
added one hundred and twenty four thousand
persons to our Indian population-comprsing
the Camanches, Navajoes, Utahs, Apaches, and
Jiccarillas, represented as the most savage and
lawless tribes within our boundaries. For many
years they have been in the habit of making
hostile incursions into the neighboring provinces
Of Mexico, and ravaging whole neighborhoods
numbering the men and carrying the women
and children into captivity. In reference to oul
treaty with Mexico, and the obligations thereby
assumed by the United States with regard to the
repression Of these outrages by Indians resident
within our borders, Mr. STUART recommended
that agents should be sent among these tribes
who could exercise restraining influence over
them; at the same time suggesting that such
were their fierce disposition and predatory
habits that it was to be feared that they could
only be restrained from committing great out
RACES on the persons and property of the inhab
itants of neighboring territory by the militar,
power Of the country.
The SECRETARY OF WAR in his annual report
in allusion to the recent large accessions to on
territory, and the enlarged inland frontier re
curing protection from the Indians, says IT viii
appear manifest that the present military
establishment is entirely Inadequate to il
wants." "The most important duty" he adds
(Which at present devolves on the Department
is the protection Of Texas and New Mexic,
against the Indian tribes in their vicinity
This object has engaged the anxious attention
. of the Department, and all the means at its
disposal have been employed 10 effect il. The
recruiting service has been actively prose
'cuted, with view to bringing the companies
stationed on that frontier to their complement