The true Democrat., 1855-03-21
The Suppression of Indian
 Hostilities.
SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

he following message from the President Of the United States with the accompanying letter from the Secretary of War, was sent to both houses of Congress on Thursday:
 To hls Senate and House of Representatives. l transmit herewith a letter of the Secretary of War upon the subject of Indian hostilities.- The employment of volunteer troops, as sug- geSted by the Secretary, seems to afford the only practicable means of providing for the present emergency. There is much reason to believe that other cases similar in character 10 those particularly referred to in the accompanying papers, will at an early day require vigorous measures and the exhibition of a strong military force. The proposed temporary provision to meet special demand, so far from obviating, in my judgment, only serves to illustrate, the urgent necessity of an increase of the regular army, at least to the extent recommended in my late annual message. Unless by the plan pro- posed, or some other equally effective, a force can be early brought into the field adequate to the suppression of existing hostilit.eS the com- binaton of predatory bands will be extended, and the difficulty of restoring order and securi- ty greatly magnifed. On the other hand, with out permanent military force of sufficient strength to control the unfrendly Indians it may be expected that hostilities will soon be renewed, and that years of border warfare will affict the country .etarding the progress of set tlemcut, exposing emigrant trains to savage bar barties, and consuming millions of the public money.
 The state of things made known in various letters rec, ,nty received at the war department, extracts from portion of which are herewith enclosed, is calculated to augment the deep so- licitude which this matter has for some time past awakened, and which has been earnestly expressed in previous messages, aud in the an- nual reports of the Secretary of War. I re- spectfullv submit that he facts now communi- cated urgently call for immediate action on the part of Congress. FRANKLIN PIERCC.
 Washington, Jan 16, 1855.
 WAR DEPARTMENT
 Washington, Jan. 15, 1855. {
 Sir: In the annual report from this depart ment, of December, 1853, your attention was called to the state of western Indian tribes, and the causes which tended to bring them into hos tlty with our citizens The exposed condition of the settlements on the frontier and of emi- grants to California and Oregon passing through the Indian country with their property, pre- sented to those warlike and predatory tribes temptations which 1t was forseen would lead them to acts of massacre and plunder, unless they were restrained by the presence of suffi- cient military force.
 The total inadequency of the present autho- rzed military force for the protection of our citizens was shown, and an increase of the army was as urgently recommended.
 In my last annual report the subject was again brought forward, with the additional considera- tons presented by the realization in some mea- sure, of the evils which had been anticipated, and an increase of the army to such an extent as would enable the department to meet the inevitable emergency was urged in such terms as appeared to be demanded by the occasion, and to demonstrate the necessity of the mea- sure.
 Since the date of that report, intelligence re- ceived from officers on the frontier and through the department of the interior, from agents and other sources, shows that the Indians of the western prairies and mountains are in hostile and defiant attitude; that several of those tribes have entered into combinations for the purpose of making general war upon the whites dur ing the approaching spring and summer, and that these tribes can bring into the field from four to six or eight thousand warriors Had the increase of the army, which was urged in my report of December 1853, been at an early pe- rlod authorized, the force at the disposal of the
 
 vent these combinations and, in all probability, would have preserved the lives of many valua- ble citizens from Indian massacre.
 This measure, however, has not been acted on, and at this advanced period, should the bills now pending in Congress be passed it will be found too late to organize a regular enlisted force and place it in position in season to pre- vent the anticipated attack or to suppress it un- til after much mischief shall have been done. The only course now left to the department in anticipation of the proposed increase is the en- plovment of volunteer force to cooperate with such of the regular troops as can be col lected for the present emergency; and it is ac- cordingly recommended that authority be asked of Congress to call into service three thousand mounted volunteers, to be organized into com panies, squadrons and battalions, and to serve for period of eighteen months, unless sooner discharged
 Should the proposed increase of the army be authorized during the present session, it IS hop.