The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-23
453,293 1887

Some estimate of the general exactions may
be formed from the losses of a single commu-
nifty, although the marshals report that this
statement falls short of the actual depredations.
When we consider that the population of
New Mexico is less than one hundred thousand,
excluding the Pueblo and Navajo Indians, who
cultivate the earth and raise stock, it is obvious
that they cannot sustain such charge upon
their industry as the support of the rapacious
tribes who are absolutely compelled, alike by
habit and necessity, to rely upon the labor of
others. New Mexico might, as heretofore,
have paid her quota of the tribute to these AL
gerines of the prairies; but exposed to an ex-
traordinary requistion, we cannot see how any
thing short of the same abandonment of their
country, which has depopulated the fairest por-
tons of Sonora, can follow, unless the Uni
ted States shall organize for their protection a
force greater perhaps than would have been ne
cessary to have restrained the California In
dams, fempIoyed in that State for that purpose.
In addition to the positive destruction Of
property, there are other dIscouragements to
immigration, which will tend to delay the set
Element Of New Mexico, if the policy Of con-
gregating the Indians within it's limits be car
ried out. The robberies to which we have
referred are almost always accompanied with
murders; often with the capture of women and
children. This keeps the settlements in state
of terror, of which the descendants of the
BooNEs and SEWERS, and CALLAwAYs can have
no idea. The wife of the Anglo-Saxon
would often bar the cabin-door and defend her
children successfully against the savage foe, or
she would load the rifle of her husband, or
chop off the fingers Of the Red Republicans if
they appeared through the cabin chnking.
This was the character of our collision with
the savages, and therefore they rarely beat
back-never arrested our settlement. With the
"Roman race" however, it is different, for we
learn that on recent alarm of clos Barbaros"
in the capital city Of chihuahua, the women
and children ran shrieking through the streets,
whilst the male descendants of CoRrEs and
BERNAs DIAz, and ALvARApo, fell upon their
knees in the plaza, and prayed to the Virgin
for assistance.
We cannot, then, think the policy of con-
CoutIduuu CisHCi inoihCu hu"dHiIJ VI
wisdom, since it encourages the instructive an
imosities of the Indian race, and subjects the
property and lives of those who respect the
usages Of civilization to the concentrated ra-
pacity Of starving savages.
In this case, however, as in many others,
we admit it is easier to condemn measure
than to suggest substitute. If determination
be the destiny of the aboriginal population, the
policy of concentrating them in such a manner
that they may indulge their fondness for war
with liberal annuity commutable into whisky,
and accompanied with a few seasonable ende
mics of cholera or smallpox, will promote that
object very effectually. But in the meantime
the territory subjected to the enhanced miseres
of their congregation must be protected. This
will require an efficient force. The prompt
punishment of their robberies aud the punctual
payment Of their subsidies, and, above all, the
construction of one or more railroads through
New Mexico, will tend to establish the safety
of that Territory, and encourage an emigration
adequate to its own protection We think. |
however, that the proper policy would have
been to require California to support and re- |
strain her own Indians, which, from her pecu
mary and physical ability. she could have done
more efficiently than New Mexico with the
United States to aid her.