The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-22
The Indians In Tcxas.

Mr.. FILLMORE in his message adverted to
the condition of the Indians on the Mexican
frontier, the need that exists for some provision
on the part Of Texas to give them location
and the means of obtaining subsistence, and
the probability that the neglect of this course
will embarrass the General Government in its
relations with Mexico. The Western Ienan,
published at San Antonio, dwells upon the
same subject, with an earnestness to which the
exigencies. of the locality naturally give rise.
The journal in question describes the condition
of the Indians as wretched in tho extreme, and
insists that the peace of the frontier can only
be preserved by exterminating or colonizing
them. Accepting the latter as the really prac-
ticsble and proper alternative, it proceeds to
say:
1.-THE General Government ia ready and willing
to colonize the Indians in Texas, 30 coon as our
State government will give it sole control of them,
and set apart. by lease or otherwise, strip of ter.
ritory on which to locate them. At present the
General Government has little or control over
the Indians. Citizens of Texas, or at least white
men, are constantly selling them liquor, and hold
ing out inducements for them to steal by pur-
chasing the spoils of their predatory incursions.
The Government cannot prevent this within the
Jurisdiction of Texas by enforcing the non-inter-
course law. All appear quite anxious to have q
stop put to Indian depredations, and expect the
Government to do it, but none willing to come
forward and aid in the accomplishment of an OBJ
ject so desirable by recommending that our Le-
gislature offer the General Government a suffi-
cient amount of territory on which to coonize the
Indians. If the OF this territory s only granted
for ten fifteen years, it will enable the Govern
ment to collect the Indians and partially civilize
| them preparatory to locating them elsewhere.
Texas HAS the land and to spare; and. by grant.
ing it for such purpose she would be the gamer
to greater extent than if che to sell 1t at ita
nominal value Toxas has already lost more,
by Indian depredations retarding the growth OF
the country and in the sacrifice of the lives and
property of her citizens. than such an amount
OF teri TORY would be worth. The General Gov
eminent knowing that Texas 10 aware that il own,
no lands in Texas, or contiguous thereto, which
to settle the Indians, has waited for proposition
| to come from her. On the other hand, it would
seem that Texas, anxious to make good bargain,
has waited for the Government to make a PROPOSE.
ton, and WHILE they have been coquctting with
each other, citizens have been left to suffer II
is not too late even now, and hope the ex ra
session Of the Legislature will not overlook a
matter important to the intercst Of the State
and the welfare Of the people. We doubt very
much whether sufficient quantity OF land could
be found on which TO locate the Indians without
buying out the claims Of those who have been en-
gagged for the last six or eight months locating
headlight certificates. Still, we hope an effort
will be made TO efIsct final peace on our frontier
The only way in which IL can be done is TO settle
the Indians where they can be restrained and pro-
vided for. Feeding the Indians will do far more
towards securing peace than fighting them"
DKrEAr OF A RUSSIAN notwithstanding to a
statement of a London correspondent of the New
York Tribune, Russian army Of 80 900 men has
recently suffered disastrous defeat by the noun.
tainecrs Of Circnssia. The Tribune states that the
fact has not yet reached the London Journals, but