Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-05-11
Mexican Frontier Indians.

The clause in the treaty Of Guadalupe Hldalg'
which bound the United States to guard the Mex
leans from the assaults of Frontier Indians, wa:
the most unfortunate that could have been admit
ted in such document. 1t opened Held tor con
troversy. Mexico had been annoyed by these
savages ever since the earliest settlement IN ina
quarter land any negotator at all familiar Win a
merican history ought to have avoided commit'i,e
his Government upon such subject, unless he
expressly designed leaving sore spot between
the nations which, at any moment; might oe ex-
cited to inflammation.
We learn that reclamations have been frequent
ly made upon our government, since lS4o, 1or
losses caused by Indian forays over the Mexican
border. Now, how are the comings and golngss'
the doings and sayings, of these Arabs OF our will
derness to be proved satisfactorily, so as TO form
the basis of treaty claim? Who shall swear
from which side of the yet unknown boundary
they came? Are there any witnesses except the
Mexicans? Who will prove the credibility OF
half the frontier bandits and outlaws who are
ready to testify when any body is ready to pay
The Governments of New Mexico and Oh hra-
hua have, at various times, adopted measures "a
aginst the Indians of the desert. An Irishman
named Kirker was engaged, by chihuahua, some
ten years since, to equip band of Delawares,
with which for a long time he made deadly war
fare among the Apaches. In 1850, Texan call
ed Glanton, was employed with his party, by the
same State to s'hunt the Indians" and faithfully
did he perform his task exterminating whole
tribe of Apaches in one fell swoop,-until he be-
gan to exercise his killing propensites quite too
generally, and was at last induced 10 leave the
country.
At the beginning of 1852 Colonel Lamberg, a
Dane, who had been in the Mexican service for
many years, was engaged by Chihuahua to under
take the reconnaissance of the Eastern frontler.-
In Coahula he found the notorious Florida negro,
Sam Jones, and Wild Cat, with his band Of Sc
minoles all of whom he took into the States ser
vice and brought to the capital for enlistment. a.
gainst the savages. But the authorities suddenly
changed their minds. Col. Lamberg was not en-
poyed to lead the recruits, and the Florida heroes
left Chihuahua with suitable Indignation, deciar-
ing that Sin the whole Government they had not
met one single gentleman"
Such was the Mexican defence of the most ex-
posed northern State, by these Dugald Dalgettys
and their soldiers of fortune. The old "military
colonies" established by the nation to subdue the
soil and the savages, proved utter failures; and
now, the local government has adopted sort of
crow killing -contract-system, by which it hopes
in time to free itself from the Apaches and Ca
manches. "The government" says correspon--
dent of the Tew York Tribune from chihuahua,
''pays for every full grown male Indian, killed or
taken alice, reward of 5000. a scalp and pair
Of ears form the official proof in the first case
For full grown Indian woman, alive,I suppose,
it is understood, the reward is $3.50, for a boy Ia
ken alive $3.50, for a boy killed $l00. Indian
children taken captive are placed by the Govern
ment in good families, where they are as well ed
ucated as, under the common circumstances here,
can be expected
''The girls generally remain and become good
servants; tine boys usually run away as soon as
they have attained an age which enables them to
do so"-BaH american.