Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-12
INDIAN COUNCIL IN NEW MEXICO.

INTERESTING INDIAN COUNCIL IN NEW MEXICO.
We have been favored with the particulars Of the
interesting Council before referred to in our columns
held in November last at Albiquiu, one of the most
westerly pueblos of New Mexico, between Acting
Indian Agent GREINER and large portion of the
Utah tribe OF Indians, in which, considerable
number Of friendly Jicarilla Apaches being present
was thought best to allow them to participate.
The LIST Of November last appointed for the dstri.
button Of presents to the Utahs in the Taos Valley but
party Of the Prairie Indians being foot against the
Utahs the latter preferred keep much as possible
the west Of the mountains SO as not to expose themselves
families to the danger Of attacks from their enemies
The place Of meeting therefore changed to Aquu
and the day to the 18th Of November About four hun
dred warriors and hundred and children were
In attendance ut the time and place appointed and pre-
sents to the value of about three thousand dollars dis
tribued to them. Among the preparations meet them
the part of the United States no troops or escort
included This was thought hazardous by many in view
Of the fact that the Utahs wld tribe the result
Is regarded proving that the plan adopted
altogether the best One advantage at least appears
obvious in the far than ordinary candor and free
dom Of speech used by the Indians the occasion,
whereby the Government is enabled ascertain more de-
cdedy their genuine thoughts and feelings AT the
trance of these Indians into Abiquu the Sights reported
as having been imposing They dashed in horseback
prancing and charging, firing their guns, and singing
their songs until they had reached the quarters pre-
pared for their reception After the distribution Of -four
amongst them, with plenty of good beef and mutton killed
specially for their which they oil Toasted to their
hearts content, the Council commenced acting Agent
Greiner telling them
That their Great Father the President of the United
States well pleased with his red children and that
he wished to have few presents made to them
of their good behavior during the past year He hoped
they might long continue to live such friendly TERMS
and that they would soon begin to build themselves
houses quit their rowing way Of lfe and provide subsis
tence for themselves their wives and children, by cult
waiting the soil. If they would do this they would
find themselves living independently than and
with far comfort and happiness. fort had been
established in their country not only to protect the ct
of New Mexico but also to defend the Utahs from the
depredaons of the Kiowas Arrnpahoes and Cheyennes
1t was to be hoped the Utahs would not the Ar
kansas to fight it much better to be at peace The
friendly relations subsisng between the citizens and
Indians of New Mexico he hoped would continue and
that neither party would consider itself justified in
making war"
Coniachi, the captain of the Utahs replied
My people cannot live as the Americans live it was
intended they should The country not calculated
for it. The mountains STERILE and be culti-
vated The valleys were made feed animals. The
supplies with food and the skins Of the deer and
the buffalo keep us warm in the winter.
We do not like to work we prefer riding our horses
where we please and do not wish to live in houses
When Of people dies burn the house in which
he lived and destroy all the property that belonged to
him, that he may have the of it in the strange
country to which he has gone. If to build
selves houses should always have to be building, for
many Of our people die.
Our hands are too soft to. work. Our women have
much work to do as they why, then, should they
have Our Great Father the President has been
very kind to u.s. he has given -four and meat to eat
and blankets to wear, and hearts swelling with
gratitude We are all disposed to regard the council to
which have listened, and to obey the orders of
Great Father but fear he has not the confidence in
he ought to have he would give powder and
lead. We want it to kill game with
The -four and beef that have received very good
but give powder and lead and then provide
families by hunting Some of our people have been
to the fort the Sierra Blanca fort Massachusetts,
and they kindly treated. But the fort does
good. There five passes through the mountains
the prairie country and it is not any of them
The Prairie Indians have committed many depredations
upon our people, and told must not make
We do not wish TO have hands bound together when
enemies permitted to steal our stock and murder
our wives and children If we to make war, we
shall expect the Americans at the fort protect and
our property.
We fear the Americans care for the Kiowas and
Cheyennes than they do for the Utahs for many of them
married. and have children upon the praries but the
Utahs have no palefaced children"
Having received the presents the Indians made prepa
ratons to return to their homes highly pleased with the
treatment they had met with, and pledgng themselves
faithfully to observe the treaty made with the Government
of the United States.