The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-02

Revival OF GeneFps Jncks0nS AmY
dian War Policy. !
fhe latest advices Rom ihe West inform
ID Ti continued warlike demonstrations from
the Camanches in the territory stretching
west from the Arkansas frontier towards
New Mexico. Lieutenant Beale's exploring
party; engaged In laying out and construct
ing military and emigrants' road, from Fort
Smith to Albuquerque and onward near the
thirty-fith parallel, had been threatened and
were obliged to halt at North Fork. Strong
forces OF the army were, however, moving
towards him to reinforce and protect him, and
this auxiliary force, united with his nilitary
escort Of about a hundred and fifty troops,
and his civil corps, consisting OF about fifty
men, will not enable him to resist any as.
sault from the suvages, but, II necessary, to
assume the offensive and carry war into their
own settlements.
II is the purpose, we believe, Of the War
Department to adopt the samo line Of policy
against these Camanches OF North Texas,
aid the not less formidable Navajoes Of New
Mexico, that has been adopted with so much
success Ia Washington and Oregon Terri.
tories; that 10, instead Of posting troops
/ along the whole line Of white settlements to
watch out for the satages and to repel, as
as we'll as they can In their dispersed con-
diton, his stealthy assaults upon the settlers,
| 10 concentrate the troops, assume tho ag.
gressive, and carry the war home into the
heart of his settlements and hounts; and this,
In the winter time, when he is not rowing
upon the plains, but 10 ensconced in secluded
- ~ Nhi MI OF -
for tho winter.
We believe it is inteRdedi WHEREVER pSnc.
tlcsble, to carry this policy even further;
and in regard to the wild and unruly tribes
but nomiOally friendly, instead of posting
troops at fixed points TO remain ON the watch
ready to afford protection when required; TO
adopt the plan Of requiring the troops to
move as the tribes move with their families,
and to be always encdmP pod within striking
distance Of their settlements; so that any
outbreak or outrage committed by the Indian
may be punished by an immediate Blow
struck at the very heart OF the tribe!
1t is believed that this system Of active
war, carried into the very hlu0ts VI the hos
tile tribes, and Of close watch upon the wild
and unruly tribes which observe only nomi.
nal relations Of friendship with the whites,
will soon put the same face upon our rela.
tions with the Indians east Of the Rocky
Mountains that has been 81 happily put upon
our relations with the tribes on the Pucfic
sslope; and that the Indians throughout the
Wild regions oil the West will soon bs suing
as abjectiy for peace as they are doing IN
Washington and Oregon Territories. II
these coDident unticipations De realiz d, in
steud Of being annoyed BY constant tiIinls
of Indian incursions and murders, from the
scattered condition of the United Suites
troops along our extended frontiers; the
country will witness period of Indian sub.
ordination such as has not been known since
the days of Jackson, who practiced the same
policy which has been resumed at this late
day. .
1t Feers to us that nothing could be more
obvious than the superiority of the policy
~hhh has now been resorted to, over the Old
one, of allowing the savage to choose hlt
own relations OF peace and war with the
whites, his own periods Of assault, aud hi:
own battle. grounds with our troopsi and
above all; OF permitting him to keep his own
forces always CcnceTtratet, rdity to GssaGl
/ WIN eUeCtS StHdIi uPClcnInbHtd OF OUT trOUDs
dispersed over tGng frontieri and exposed
settlement, Ut our citizens!
The policy in questi II HeFd CIT to the sav.
age is constant temptation to resume hoslIi.
tfss, and to indTige his native propensities
| lor puader; waiIe the readiness of our gov
ernme nj otreat without exactirg retrbution
upoT tne slightest professions of friendly
sentiments, ruaDlcd him almost .lways tc
escape the consequences OF his conduct with
impunity.
All who have any Acquaintance with the
wild Indian, know that he cannot be con.
troIIed by any other sentiment than fear
and that the only guarantee Of permanent
peace between him and the white, is u thor.
ough conviction, established in his mind, o
our power to defeat and oyerwhcm him in
battle. When this conviction is carried
home to his mind by an energetic extempor.
izing policy adopted against him in war, ant
Is mode constantly present to his mind by q
proper disposal of our troops in times OF peace
We may then, and not till then, expect per
mancntrelations Of fpeace with them, - Wash.
tngton Union.