The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-15
The Texas Frontier.

of peculiar pleasure 10 10 perceive by the Pre-
| sidents Message and the accompanying reports of
the Secretary of War, Secretary Of the Interior,
and the commander in chief of the army, that the
| immediate attention of your honorable bodies has
been called to the very unprotected state of our
western frontier. Surrounded "a we are, in very
| great measure by hostile Indian tribes OF the
worst kind, (some OF them being actually cannibais)
from whose midst the buffalo, their principal mode
of Subsistence, are rapidly disappearing, we natu-
rally begin to feel solicitous in regard to the future
| safety of our border settlers The experience of
the past year has shown existing state of feeling
among the various tribes within immediate
| vicinity, bordering on determination to oppose
what they pleased TO term further en-
| croachments our unsettled territory In many
cases, this spirit of opposition has manifested itself
| in direct open hostility, by sudden and precon-
certed attacks mail escorts, driving of our
cattle, and carrying into horrible captivity some Of
the female portion Of border settlers. It can
not be denied that this feeling has. in slight de-
| gree, been engendered by imprudences the part
| of few lawess whites who have settled on our
| western frontier. However, as a general thing,
copper skinned neighbors have transcribed all
bounds of mere retaliation, by running into most
| horrible excesses-devastating plundering, muir
dering and laying waste wherever they went
Even most public roads are continually
aInbushed by them, whilst communica alton is in a
| great measure cut of with many of our more
| mote border towns. The apathy exhibited by the
| Legislative branches of the General Government
during the past summer, in regard TO authorizing
| the creation of one two additional mounted regi-
ments for the protection of our frontier, well
that of Mexico, which by its treaties the United
States stands pledged to do, has encouraged thess
devils to proceed in their hellish work of rapine.
They laugh to scorn the few miserable Struggling,
| disappointed mounted infantry" (Which for want
of better troops the Administration has been COM
PEELED to send against them) and coolly drive off
our herds of cattle before their very faces. Being
we'll mounted and well-armed, (thcr weapons hav-
| ing been wrested from their former Mexican mas
| tiers in many previous engagements,) they roam
| through our thnly settled districts, laying the
| country waste wherever they go. Emboldened by
| their continued success, owing to their meeting
with earthly opposition whatever. they grow
moro and more daring every day. Late accounts
show that many of our California Adventures have
been driven from the water holes along their route
| their animals stolen from them, and they them
selves obliged TO seek safety in flight. In fact, it
| was but the other day that four teamsters were
| cruelty murdered by them western plains.
1t is in vain that treaties have been entered into
! with them. They have only been found but to
preface still further acts of treachery their parts
Punched with hunger, and relying upon their nu-
merical strength, (Which is very great-see Secre-
| tafy of the Interiors report,) they descend with
the swoop of the falcon from their mountain fast
nesses upon defenccless borders below in order
to crafty their innate Unsuitable desire for plum
| dering and theving. 1t is to you, then, gentle
| men of the Military Committees, headed as you
are by truly chvalrous gentleman, Jefferson
| Davs,) that we appeal for and assistance.
1t is true that the coming of winter will pro-
| tcct Us In measure from their more frequent in
cursions, by rendering their ponies unfit for ser
vice. owing to the want of grass which must neces-
eat1ly ensue. But the opening of spring will be
the signal for again digging up the ill buried
Ratchet, and assembling in the field against US
the largest confederation of hostile Indian war
riors ever collected together in spot on the
American continent. Even their runners
| are out busily engaged IN organizing the differ
ent tribes for the approaching campaign;
whilst 1t Id said that some depravcd and aban-
doned white men, having nothing to lose but every
thing to gain, secretly leagued with them in
| their hellish compact In four short months gen
| tlcmen, will the blow bs struck, and the enemy
| again be upon The horrors of second visit
from their dusky forms will be increased by the
short partial respite which are now about to en-
JOY To you then, gentlemen, we look for protection
| against the coming storm Our case has Just been
!
ington, in manner which shows that they are
fully impressed with sense of the impending dam
ger which threatens our devoted heads. General
Scott, the Secretary of War, and all, have all uni
ted in calling upon your honorable bodies for add-
| tional mounted regiments General Scott proved
himself to be right in conducting the Mexican cam
| paign. Then take heed to his sage advice in the
present criss. Go to work in earnest, gentlemen
Divest yourselves of the lothargy attendant upon
the eating of Christmas dinners and report at once
| bill authorizing the creation Of at least two or
three additional mounted regiments. Recolect
that we are not the only community whose borders
are continually overrun by these savage sons of the
forest Our sister State of New Mexico has already
been the scene of several bloody engagements with
the Camanches and Apaches; whilst murders
have been committed by them in the very face of
the United States troops. Much could be done be-
tween this and spring towards making provision
for our future safety, if Congress will only grant
the authority requisite for 80 doing. portion of
these regiments might be recruited and sufficiently
instructed in the art of managing the horse TO war
rant their being placed in the field, at early Pc
riod, to serve as check upon the enemy whilst
the rest could fully prepare themselves to carry the
war into the Indian territory during the coming
summer. The fact ia, we can never have perma
nent lasting peace, until these rowing tribes are
taught to respect American arms; until they have
been pursued to their mountain Businesses, their
wives and children taken from them for time, to
be held rs hostages, and they themselves forced to
become practical agricuturists, can our border
settlers expect to remain unmolestcd in their pecu
liarly exposed habitatons. Then gentlemen, re-
port bill for the raising of these regiments forth
with, and let US acc if there be misnamcd reform
ist' (whosc narrowncss of comprehension will not
permit him to understand the increasing wants of
a large and GROWING Renublic ELa THE y ,yho ,u;u
venture to oppose its passage. The ghost of the
murdered Mrs. White would rise up and rebuke
him with her blood dripping finger. No, no, gen
t'emen; we cannot but believe that both branches
OF Congress are awaiting your speedy action in Or
der to come to our relief Then, for the last time
we say go to work in earncst raise these regiments
forthwith, and you will gladden. the hearts of hun
dreds of poor isolated backwoodsmen of the Texan
border.