The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-16

SANTA FE, New Mexico,
August %. 1858.

august Zo 1000.
10 the Editors Of The Washington Union m
The purpose of this communication is to direct public
attention the state of Indian affairs in this Territory
and the adjoining State of Texasa subject Of life and
death importance to of the frontier however ignored
by Congress and the public Many years residence upon
the border gives claim to speak in behalf of the
frontier settler and to point out his dangers and wants
With the annexation of Texas acquired chronic
war with tho Camanches and other wild tribes and what
ever may have been the merits of the quarrel originally
il became the plain duty of the federal government to take
effective for the protection of young sister
State This not done and to this day life and property
is almost insecure in Texas, even IN sight of San
Antonio the most popuous town in the State, as
1t in Kentucky in the days of Daniel Boone and
thinks of leaving his door without being pre-
pared. with rifle and revolver, to dispute his life with
some band of lurking savages he may at any moment
encounter. 1t is true, United States troops have been
kept in Texas since the conclusion of the Mexican war;
but their number has been inadequate their disposition
faulty and their energy badly directed but than
ALL there has been total absence of sya resulting in
some measure doubt, from want of agreement and
concert of action between the agents of the War and In
dian Departments of the government do not speak of
the present administration, for with Mormon rebellion,
Oregon Indian war; and fctious Congress to thwart
and cripple the Executive it has effected much more
than the enemies of public peace desired But, will
sensible and patriotic men, who prefer the public welfare
to the success OF continue support
recrean to the best interests of the countrymen who
would sacrifice the Union itself rather than strengthen
the President in the performance of the duties imposed
upon him by the constitution and laws?
Fellow-citzens of the old States tell you plainly you
not doing your duty by us-you are not acting to-
wards brotherly part. When year after year. the
Executive is denied the for protection through
the spirit of factous opposition of degrading parsi
mony neither from the press nor the rostrum do we hear
any expression of indignation against those who thus
tribe with lives 1t u.s. doubtless difficult for those
of you to understand condition who have been
west of the Mississippi and happily know nothing of In
dams Indian character except from Coopers novels
travellers romances, prercvolutionary traditions
otherwise think you would turn deaf ear to our
demands for protection. tell you the dangers
tered by the frontiersmen far from being fictitious
Atrocities have been committed to my knowledge
and that not long snce the horrors of which cannot be
repeated. They liable to occur at any mo-
ment in the present condition Of the frontier de-
fences. You will all admit that, abstractly, the log
cabin of the American pioneer is as worthy of pro-
lection the ship Of the merchant but mark the diff
ference in practice Let but blank cartridge be fired at
the verest cocle-shell of merchantmen the ocean.
and the nation is camorous for war; and whole navy
is sent after the offender while the murder Of entire
families of pioneers upon soil Is considered of
Importance whatever. Our tender hearted countrymen
congratulated themselves immensely upon their human
ty for having rescued the Hungarian Koszta from the
clutches of the Austans but where their bowels Of
compassion for their countrymen and country
women whom year after year, they hear of being
dered torn from their homes to satiate the brutal lust
of their captors p Even if the ontiersman had not the
right to demand protection from such violence it would
be due from the humanity of Christian people.
AS inadequate as the present standing army Ia to the
wants of the country 1t must be admitted that it has not
always effected much it is capable Of under better
management The failure cannot be justly imputed to
the army ITSELF for believe there cannot be found
body of men devoted rule, to the performance
Of their whole duty than the officers of the army but
the fault has been in the system under which their
ges have been instructed. To give this system
and description by single word, let call it DECISION
union be strength and division weakness in the
in which we hear politicians the terms they
much more so in military Instead of concen-
trating available forces at points convenient to
depots of supplies and within striking distance of the
Indians whose hostility is to be apprehended have
been acting the principle Of division and subdivision
until small military posts and deachments often
too weak for selfproecon the late defeat of Col
Steptoes command shows.
This system of division, might have been expected
has sgnay failed in giving protection to the frontier
settlements of Texas and life and property there to-day
scarcely than in the days Of the republic
This being undeniable fact, would II not be wise to
try another system, viz: concentration, which in oil
nes has been found be the true secret of military
cess Instead of the fifteen sixteen stations at pres
ent occupied by the regular troops in that State let
In the first place, by vigorous campaign carried into
the heart Of the Indian country break the power for
mischief of those tribes that have long preyed upon
the frontiers Of Texas after which concentrate the
troops Mt points from which those Indians be easily
reached and held in subsection. The Camanches and
Kowas have for years waged an unrelenting warfare
against the frontiers Of Texas their hostility has been
known to government for years. and yet strange to
say this state of things has been allowed to continue
when by single vigorous campaign these depredations
might have been put stop to forever. 1t is mistake
suppose that the country inhabited by these Indians
presents any serious obstacles to the march of troops