Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-04

i5 expended
earthly advantage results to the Government from he
MS they are infantry and defenceless Can you
the wild Tartar upon his steed and overtake him Can
YOU reduce him to subordinatonf No. you might as
well think of taking the antelope And yet infantry
sent there for the purpose Of keeping garrison Ii
perfecl TO the wild Indians and when young
brave wishes to distinguish himself 1t is tempting
thing when he infantry soldier deenceess and
out Of reach of immediate succor, spear him aud
take his scalp home his betrohed exhibiting in the
war dance Therefore the troops not only Inefficient
but they misfortune, calamity to the frontier for
they keep state OF excitement and reciprocal depre
aon that will always produce insecurity to the settlers
But win relate circumstance that will 20 far to Illus
rae the mpocy of thus endeavoring to maintain peace
on frontier where SO desirable and necessary
The tragic connected with the capture OF Mrs
White and her subsequent death ameatable facts,
solution of the leading to which reldiy be
given | know that it matter of deep sympathy
and concernment throughout the whole country, and
burning was felt in every heart that she should
be rescued from savage bondage have been informed
and believe automatically, that band Of the Hickory
Apaehes Los Vegas were encamped in that vicinity
An officer of dragons had command Of the garrison
that point Some Indians had committed depretations
upon persons property not far from there Ee sent
an angry command to the Indian camp to come rto the
fort Immediately They became alarmed at the ciarac
ter of the message and started to make off fast pos
sible Now had the officer possessed any reflection,
moments consideration would have taught him that these
Indians could not have committed the outrage, else would
thew never have trusted themselves in his vicinity But
they attempted to fly after the angry mandate gen,
and the dragons were sent after them. The Indians
were oyertaken and remorscessly cut down-men, NO
men, and children, no regard being paid to age
Eight women also captured and were taken tothe
garrison where they were detained for time. In
the tme in revenge for what seemed to then so
outrage the Apaches mustered IN force, and
attacked a party OF emigrants. They murdered Mr.
white and his companions, and carried his wife and
child into captivity They also attacked the macarer
and party with him, and murdered them. On hearing
Of these murders by the Indians, the officer in command
49, hae
they committed taking with them of their cap
tves, the daughter of principal chief of the Apaces
reaching what they supposed to be the vicinity of the
Indian camp the Indian girl was sent forward to the top
of adjacent HILL with directions to make such signals
to her people would bring them into camp She went
and walled all night and in the morning back. The
troops desparng of success determined to return and
the girl ordered to get into one Of the wagons She
refused and down. with her head between her hands,
for time. They then attempted to force her in.
Enraged at this she seized knife and ran at the fellow
who had taken hold Of her. The around mule
to himself but in her attempts to get at him. she
stabbed two mules and pursued him until another, who
related it boastingly drew his revolver and blew her
brains out. In the time information of these muir
ders had reached Taos and party consisting of one
company Of dragons and volunteers IN all amounting to
hundred and twenty started in pursuit Of the Apa
ches under the guidance of Kit Carson. After tracking
them for ten days the Indians were overtaken. The
troops advanced to within two hundred yards Of the Ia
dams, when halt called. AT that time Indian
stepped out from the camp, drew up his gum and knock
| ed over the officer in command Another Indian then
shot the officers horse After this they Immediately
packed up and made their escape. Not single Indian
was taken But what was presented when the
troops entered the camp. There lay the body of Mrs
White, pierced through with arrow, warm, but life
less and oil this the result of too hasty action
lack Of judgment the part Of the officer in command
Now, if we expect to cvilze the Indians to give
peace frontiers under circumstances of this kind
must confess that the expectation is my opinion,
founded
1t may be urged Mr. President, that but one little
tribe to whom perpetual pledges have been given
proposed to be included within the Territory of Nebraska
there is pledge which is sacred in its character given
by this Government, what you about its magnitude
If you truth by the standard fmoraty should
think little falsehoodis great alarge One may
affect the character Of individuals and communities to
extent than another but far the honesty Of
is concerned l can see no difference.
wish to refer to the report of the Commissioners of In
dian Affairs, which think light upon this
subject and shows that there is necessity for the
ganaaon of this Territory at this time In his very able
annual report he says
"By provision contained in net Of Congress approved
Sd of March last the President was authorized enter
into negotiations with the Indian tribes Of the States of
Missouri and Iowa. for the purpose of procuring their
to the settlement Of citizens upon the lands claimed by
them, and of extingushng their title in whole or in part to
| those lands"
The title of the Indians is acknowledged it will be
perceived He continues:
The Commissioner Of Indian Affairs designated by
the President the officer Of the Indian Department to
duct the necessary negotiations and undertaken
by him the earliest period consistent with his other official
engagements"
After stating what tribes he visited he proceeds say
"The Commissioner held councils with every tribe whom
he visited and disclosed them the OF his journey
their country He found the Indian mind in unfavorabe
condoo to receive and calmly consider his For
time previous to his arrival in the Indian country nd
vduas from the States had been exploring portions Of with
the intention as was understood Of attempting to make oca
| tions and settlements
which, it must be remembered, is violation of the In
dian intercourse law.
The discussion of the subject and the exploration Of tho
country by citizens of the States alarmed and excited the In
dams Some of them proposing grand council, at
which was designed to light UP the old Indanres and
confederate for defence against the white people, who they
believed coming in drive them from their
try and to occupy without their and without
| sideraton."
How could they have arrived at such conclusion
less by analogy to the past?
"Under such circumstances it very difficult to quiet
the Indians divest their minds OF impression that the
Commissioners visit not way other intended
to aid the whites in forcbe occupation of the country As
he in his journey conferred with the tribes the
difficulty gradually removed
"With but few exceptions the Indians opposed to sell
ing part of their lands announced in their replies to
the speeches of the Commissioner Finally however many
tribes expressed their willingness se but the condition
that they could retain tribal reservations their
tracts Of land This policy deemed Objectionable and
not to be adopted could be avocd and with such tribes
the time of treating deferred until next spring with the
hope that the Indians by that time that their
interests required entire transfer of all their lands
and their removal to home Some tribes declined TO
dispose of portion and all, with the exception OF the
Wlnndos and O;towas, who expressed opinion the
subject of organization Of civil government in that terri
tory. opposed TO the measure" II =
The condition Of the Indians located of Missouri and
Iowa is prosperous their advance in civilization
rapid the official reports annually received from that part