New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-16
From the Rio Grnnde-Proutier Defcnses.

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AS the inevitable sequence Of the nonsystem,
REORGANIZATION delinqueDces of which ac-
cuse the successive Administrations of Mr. Polk
and Gen. Taylor, and by which so many lives
have been and are at this hour being sacrificed, the
whole line of settlement along the Rio Bravo is
thrown in retrograde, and the avenues, which
should speedily stretch across the entire Cont
nent infinitely retarded The maiLroutes and the
electric chords that should unite the Far West
with the extreme asst in their cordial, harmonic
ing grasp are but a dream OF the future, when bat
for this lapse they would be a near and tangible
reality Here at Eagle Pass, now known by pri-
vate. get conclusive trial TO be bat a short two
hundred miles from the safe, healthy, landocked
harbor of Corpus Christi we are still destitute Of
mails, provisions, as well as & safe connection
with the Coast Yet il need cost the Goyernment
no more care or expense than to say to the Mill
tary authorities here, "There may be PostolHce
at Fort Duncan and your express may as well
convey the general mail when it rides with the
weekly reports. The officers here have been
more kindly disposed toward the citizens, and
more willing to take trouble for their benefit, than
those whose more especial duty it is to guard and
advance the interests Of these pioneer settle
ments
But psss we these sins ofmalrout omissions, to
remark how consistent in it's inconsistency is this
random no.plan of frontier defense. There is no
communication where it is most obviously neces-
sary, and it naturally follows that whatever OF the
kind does exist is dsiointed and i'll arranged for
the purposes Of promptitude and economy. will
not dwell upon the secondary fact, that all the
Commissnry supplies are dispatched to the inte-
ror ports at one.third more expense than need BE-
in consequence of the circuitous roads and reshlp
ments that attend their ILL adjusted course. The
main and prominent fact that the whole country
suffers by it, in life and advancement, is more per-
tnent TO the discussion and that has been pressed
upon the General Government by the common &C
claim of soldiers and citizens, and with as much
result as if it had been addressed to the moon.
The right force was never allowed the COM
manding officer. He was not enabled nor permit
ted to adopt an ample and sufficient plan, and he
had to station his meager helpless Infantry-not
where strength was most needed, but where ne
could-so as to save the country the disgrace OF
having the Indians devour them instead oil their
disposing of the Indians.
The distinct and straightforward plan was to
draw Gordon of rangers, well fanked at lmpor-
tsnt points Of iDgress and, egress such as Eagle
Pass, with posts of reserve and supply, IN ade-
quate force all along the outer edge OF the region
have heretofore described as the iavorlte range
of Indian forays To maintain well connected,
welLsustained barrier of mounted men along the
upper line of incursons, with occasional posts on
tie Rio Bravo and with c1gRIss 9 to traverse
suitable and s" .sSe nsv;ssbIe length of the
river would scarcely exceed the present outlay OF
the War Department in this quarter yet this
done would relieve effectually thousand miles OF
frontier. From the Pecos to the Cult, all the ag-
ricultural country between the Nueces and the
Rio Bravo would at once be opened to rapid set
Element and selfprotection.
Direct communication with the sea should be
opened from Santa Fe, and this line of light and
safety should intersect with others from the nayl-
gable heads of the Arkansas and Red Rivers, II
not also one from the Missouri, with an lnHexlon
that will touch Oregon through Deseret. ian,
forgot the poor MormOns were not permitted by
Republican generosity to name the child OF their
own creation-tbrough Ltah.) Then the nearest
line from the nayigabe head of the Missouri
should be traced and guarded to the Pacific not
less than the line from Santa re should be car
ried on through the yet unexplored region beyond
the ella, as directly as may be- to the Paclhc.-
These lines would so cross and overlook the WHO
est and widest Indian range, In the heart oil our
vast domain that long Indian wars would be out
of question for the future In preventive policy
alone would be q saving OF money, even H. as
seems the fashion, the vast Of life among our fell
low beingsis not worth taxing into account lao-
The iudcious employment OF the Engineer
Corps and Military force We now maintain and
the temporary block houses required along these
lines need not beegar the country. Neither OF
them will cost from first to last more than ship
OEthe line than we give to the most useless OF
our foreign embassies in ten years. IL we take
IL - thn off
any plain republican would say that the welfare
of our tens Of thousands of California emgrants
s o2,Qod as interesting TO Us as the state OF the
Erperor of Russiais health, or the happy issue
of the christening Of Queen Nlctorlas last BABY
and that is about all the business OF our diPio-
mats Their appointments consume tne Time and
means which are withheld from the rescue OF our
pershing emigrants to the Pacific, and the press
never lisps a word Of admOnltion. We have al,
tbentic knowledge OF twenty-three women and
children, and probably more than that number OF
men, being eaten. literally cooked and eaten
and in some cases they were doubtless Killed 70
be eaten by their starving and delirlOus compan-
ions " hen wandering and lost on the trackless
route TO the Pacific yet what member has risen In
bis place and manfully reused Congress from It's
mire of partyism to find a remedy!
The Public Lands, that wise, well dlSested
system of communication and defense would bring
into market would quit the cost. The landless
men who would on proper and loerai INVITATION
20 to plant homes and althe wealth ofcivilized in
dustry in the heart of the wilderness, would OF
themselves radiste noble embroidery OF deten.
sive settlements over the blank and Unprotected
expanse that now divides the Atlantic states
from their blooming young sisters on the Paclhc
These lines are also essential to the completeness
of our Mail Service. The Gulfof Mexico can then
exchange greetings with Oregon and California
through tah and Santa Fe. The Great Lakes
will regularly send their messages Of sistery love
TO the Pacific, and the alley Of the MississiPPiwi
embrace them all as she repeats the joyful tidings
OF Union TO the Atlantic. When the partizan
disposal Of the most utterly valuleSs Chargeship
is made to give way to this vast and pressing
home interest, my respect for the patriotism and
ptatesmanship Of Congress will be mmeasurably
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