The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-29
The Texan Frontier.
orr TEXAS CORRESPONDENCE.

IAN hNTONIO, IExAS, req. =, lcoI.
State Of the Front'o-Ihe Camancha Lndans-1He
Boundary Commissioners, &c.
An old Texan, and for long time not an unntc-
rested observer of things the frontier ofthis State,
| have been surprised at the strange policy which
seems to prevail at Washington in regard to our
protection from Indian depredations. have desired,
for time, to express myself upon some subjects
vitality important to frontier population, through
the medium of some widely circulated and inhuen-
tia paper, and the murder recently, Of three of
citizens by the lndiansone of them within sight Of
| this city-besdes numerous depredations, inn
| pels nc, from q sense of duty, to hesitate no
longer. |, therefore, offer the following suggestions
1t is known to oil conversant with the present
state of our country, that Texas has very extern
five frontier, along which several tribes Of In
dians-among whom the most distinguished in valor
and warlike habits as in numbers are the Canaan
ches These Indians, the reebooters of the praires
and for long period the terror Of the Nexicans, by
the late treaty of Hidalgo, are incorporated within
our limits. Accustomed for centuries to subsist
upon the fruits of their predatory excursions into
Me xico our government, when, by an article in the
same treaty, she undertook to prevent these nroads
indemnify the citizens of Mexico for their losses
| thereby sustained assumed task, the serious
ture Of which little known considered at the
time. A yet, nothing has been don't to carry out
this stipulation, or even to protect our own citizens
from similar destructive yisitatons except the
Enlistment of line Of military posts near the
frontier. These posts are 20 utterly and lamenta-
bly, inefficient that so far from afording protection
TO the hardy frontiersman, and his family, or his
property, they are, am sorry to say, destitute Of
the ability to excite even the caution, much less the
fear of the sayage-as the late murders untortu-
natcly prove. And, regret to add, SO far as We,
the ters Of the soil and the bcrdmen OF the country
are concerned. the material Of which these posts
couposed-the ex-cadets of West Point, and the
stupid sons Of Redundancy az well be practising
their exercises in their Ataa Dter on the banks Of
the Hudson and stumbling over the bogs OF their
native country, on our frontier. AT an immense
expense. government H. supporting these posts,
while they neither inspire terror or respect in the
cart Of a single Indian warrior. How long. per-
nit me to ask, is our patience to be taxed with an
endurance Of such state OF thngsl How many
of are to suffer the victims OF the scalping knife
before some policy shall be adopted which will give
us peace and security! Situated nearly $500 miles
from the capital, we sometimes fear that interest
sufficient i not manifestedhy government towards us
or information TO our real condition Is sadly
wanting in some quarter lis true we have 1T ru-
mored among us and have no doubt Of its correct
ness, that Brig. Gen. Harvey, by command Of Gen.
Brooke, is to penetrate, in short time, into the in
terror Of the Indian country for the professed pur
pose Of INJECTING ehastisement upon the Indians,
which will cause them TO cease their dcpredatons,
at least for the present. But those Of us who have
resided long time on the frontier, and have had
much experience Of Indian habits, are confident
that the expcdition will be fTuitless, and that il
MAY we not then be excused, nay, will we not be
justified in calling public attention to our condition
and asking for some relief. some means by which
We will be protected in life and propertyl
In view. then, Of these facts and the present UNI
safe condition Of the Texan frontier, why has not
the subject engaged the attention Of the admins
trationl Why have not some OF the active patriots
Of our Congress, devised some plan by which they
would confer boon upon us and do 50 much good
10 the countryl Are they waiting until Western
Texas shall be half deIcPuated by the fell swoops
Of the Camanchel Why not act nowl Why not
empower the United states Indian Commissioners,
Mcssrs. Todd, Campbell, and Temple, who have
been afpoinfed TO make treaties with the Indians on
the borders Of Mexico and the United States, and
to carry out stipulation with Mexico, to treat
with the Indians of Texas, aud to negotiate with
Governor BELL, for territory into which shall be
removed all Of the frontier lndansl This, or a
similar policy il the only one which can result in
any permanent good, either 10 our frontier or to
Mexico. By the success OF the above suggestion,
by one aud the same act, we would in part, TO the
extent of the powerful Camanche tribe, be carrying
out our faith to Mexico, and be comforting benefit
upon the Indian, and q blessing upon our citizens.
had hoped that this policy would occur 10 some OF
our statesmen or editors, and this be acted upon;
and hope yet that the valuable assistance Of the
Commissions just mentioned, could give the state
in pcrfecting the above arrangement may yet be
secured La the discharge Of their duty they arrived
in our vicinity a few weeks since, and have been
compelled to remain in camp, subject TO all the
yeistudes and hsrdships OF a seyerer winter, owing
70 the impossbilty Of crossing the plains at this
sen son of the year, without an enormous expense,
and they might sill have time to give their attcn-
fion 10 the ~. gotiat with Gov. Bc for specific
territory for the Indians, and to treat with the In
dans &C., before they proceed to join MI. Bartlett,
in con, ma nd Of the boundary commission. These
gentieme n Of pre-emipcnt ability for the discharge
81 any duty, or diplomacy, mwsyer delicate or pro-
found. two Of them having served the country with
distinction abrosd-Col Todd, as the military pu-
Pl VI Ten. Harison, diplomatic P"pio f Pgssidens