The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-21
The MEXICAN captlves.


j. X. BARTLETT, esq, the Boundary Commits
sioner, through JOHN G. CEREMONY, interpreter,
with the chiefs of the Apaches, concerning the
two Mexican captive boys taken from them in
July last, namely:
MANoUs COLORADO Why did you take our cap
tives from us?
CoMMlssIoNER.-Y captves came to US and
demanded our protection.
MANeUs CoLoRADo.--You came to our country.
You were well received by us. Your lives, your
property, your animals safe You passed
by ones, by twos, and by threes, through our
countryj you went and came safe Your strayed
animals were always brought home to you again
Our wives, our children, and women, came here
and visited your houses We were friends! We
were brothersl Believing this, we came amongst
you and brought our captives, relying on it that
we were brothers, and that you would feel as we
feel. We concealed nothing. We came not here
secretly or in the night We came in open day
and before your faces, and we showed our captives
to you. We believed your assurances of friend
ship, and we trusted them. Why did you take our
captives from us?
CoMMIssIoNER-Whatw we have said to you is
true and reliable. We do not tell lies. The great
ness aud dignity of nation forbds our doing
so mean thing. What our great brother has
why we took his caphves from him. Four years
ago we, too, were at war with Mexico We know
that the Apaches make distinction between Chi
huahua and Sonora They are at peace with Chi
huahua, but always fighting against Sonora We in
our war did not make that distinction. The Mex
leans, whether living in the other State,
arc all one nation, and we fought them a ma
ton. Well, when the war over, in which we
conquered, we made peace with them They arc
now friends, and by the terms of the peace we
bound to protect them. We told you this
when we came to this place, and requested you
to cease your hostities against Mexico. Well
time passed, and grew very friendly; every
thing went well. You in here with your
captives. Who were these captvese Mexicans-
the very people told you we were bound to pro-
tect. We took them from you and sent them TO
General Garcia Condo, who will set them at lber-
ty in their own country. We mean to show you
that we cannot lie. We promised protection to
the Mexicans, and we gave it to them. We pro-
mise friendship and protection to you, and we will
give it to you. II we had not done 30 to Mexico
you could not have believed with regard TO
yourselves. We cannot lie!
PoNcE.-Yes, bat you took our captives from us
without beforehand cautoning Us, We were ig
norant of this promise to restore captives. They
made prisoners in lawful warfare. They be-
long to US. They are our property. Our people
have also been made captives by the Mexicans. If
we had known of this thing, we should not have
come here. We should not have placed that conf
dence in you.
CoMMssIoNER.-ou Our brother speaks angriIy,
and without due reflection. Boys and women lose
their temper, but men reflect and argue; and he
who has reason and justice his side wins. j
have doubt but that you heve suffered much by
the Mexicans. This is question in which it ia im-
possible for to tell who is right who is wrong
You and the Mcxicans accuse each other OF being
the aggrcssors. Our duty is to fulfil our pro-
mise to both. This opportunity enables to
show to Mexico that we mean what we say; and,
when the time comes, we will be ready and prompt
to prove the good faith of our promises 10 you.
PoNcE.-I am neither boy nor squaw. am
man and brave. | speak with reflection
know what say. speak of the wrongs we have
suffered and those you now do (Very much
excited.) You must not speak any more. Let
some one else speak, addressing Mr. Ceremony,
the interpreter
CoMMissIoNER.-I want you to understand that
am the very to speak; the only one here who
can speak, (peremptorily.) Now do you ait down.
will hold no more talk with you but will select
man, (beckonng to Dagadito.) Do you come
here and speak for your nation.
DALaADIro.-Let my brother declare the mind
of his people.
COMPASSIONATE wish to explain to our Apache
brethren the reasons that have actuaed US in this
thing, and what we can do for the master of these
captves We know that you have not done this
thing secretly, or in the dark. You came as
braves, in open day, and brought your captives
amongst US. We are obliged to obey the orders of
our great chief in Washington as much as you
warriors are obliged to obey your commanders.
cb,o e
take all Mexican captives that you meet among
the Apaches, and set them at liberty" Now this,
you must know, we cannot disobey For this rea-
son we have taken your captives from you.
DALaADITo.-We do not doubt the word of our
brave white brethren. The Americans are braves
zoe knotc IL; and we believe brave scorns to lie.
But the owner of these captives is poor man; he
cannot lose his captives, who obtained at the
risk of his life, and purchased by the blood of his
relatives. He justly demands his captives We
are his friends and relatives, and we wish to sec
this demand complied with. 1t is just, and as JUS
tce we demand it.
CoMMissIoNER.-I will now tell my Apache breth-
rem what can be done for them. The captives can
not be restored. The Commissioner cannot buy
them, neither any American buy them; but there
is here in our employ Mexican who is anxious
to buy them, and restore them to their homes We
have objection that this Mexican should do so;
and, if he is not rich enough. some of US will lend
him the means to do 30 with.
DALGApITo.-The owner does not wish to sell;
he wants his captives.
CoMMissIoNER.--I have already told my brother
that this cannot be. speak not with two tongues
Make up your minds.
DALeADITo. The owner wants twenty horses
for them.
CoMMrssIoEER-The Apache laughs at his white
brother He thinks him squaw, and that he can
play with him with an arrow! Let the Apache
say again.
DALoADrro. The brave who owns thcso captivcs
does not wish to sell. He has had one of those
Gtwol boys Six years. He grew up under him.
His heart strings are bound around him. He is as
a son to his old age. He speaks our language, and
he cannot sell him. Money cannot buy affection.
His heart cannot be sold. He taught him to string
and shoot the bow, and to WELD the lance. He
loves the boy, and cannot sell him.
COMMISSIONER We sorry that this thing
should be- We feel for our Apache brother