The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-19
REVIVAL OF GENERAL JAcKsoS's INDIAN WAR
POLICY

The latest advices from the West inform us Of con-
tinued warlike demonstrations from the Camanches
in the territory stretching west from the Arkansas
frontier towards New Mexico. Lieutenant Beales
exploring party engaged in laying ont and CON
structing military and emigrants road, IRON Fort
Smith to Albuquerque aud onward near the thirty
fifth 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. aud this auxiliary force, united with
his military escort of about hundred and fifty
troops and his civil corps consisting of about fifty
men, will not only enable him to resist any assault
from the sayages, but if necessary, to assume the
offensive and carry into their own settlements.
II is the purpose, we believe, of the War Depart
ment to adopt the same line Of policy against these
Camanches of North Texas and the not less formda-
Bile Navajoes Of New Mexico, that has been adopted
with so much success in Washington and Oregon
Territories that is instead of posting troops along
the whole line of white settlements to watch out
for the savage and to repel, as well they can
in their dispersed condition. his stealthy assaults
upon the settlers to concentrate the troops assume
the aggressive, and carry the war home into the
winter timo when he is not rowing upon the plains,
but is ensconced in secluded retreats with his wives
children and effects, for the winter.
We believe it is intended, wherever practicable,
to carry this policy even further and in regard to
the wild and upruy tribes but nominally 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 encamped within striking distance of their
settlements 30 that any outbreak or outrage COM
mitted by the Indian may be punished by an i'm
mediate blow struck at the very heart of his tribe.
1t is believed that this system of active war; car
red into the very hauns of the hostile tribes and Of
close watch upon the wild and unruly tribes which
observe only nominal relations of friendship with the
whites will soon put the same face upon our rela-
tons with the Indians east of the Rocky noun
tains that has been so happily put upon our re-
latons with the tribes the Pacific slope; and
that the Indians throughout the wild regions OF
the West will soon be suing as abjecly for peace
they doing in Washington and Oregon
Territories If these confident anticipations be
realized, instead of being annoyed by constant
tidings of Indian incursions and murders from
the scattered condition Of the United States troops
along extended frontiers the country will wit.
ness period of Indian subordinaton such as has not
been known since the days of jackson, who prac-
tised the same policy which has been resumed at
this late day.
II seems to us that nothing could be more obvious
than the superiority Of the policy which has now
been resorted to- the old one of allowing the saw
age to choose his relations of peace or war with
the whites, his own periods for assault, and his own
battle-grounds with our troops and, above all, of
permitting him to keep his own forces always con-
cenrated, ready to assault with effect small detach-
mens Of our troops dispersed over long frontier,
and exposed settlements of our citizens
The policy in question held out to the savage
constant temptation to hostilities and to in
dulge his native propensities for plumbers while
the readiness of our government to treat without
exacting rerbution upon the slightest professions of
friendly sentiments, enabled him almost always to
escape the consequences of his conduct with i'm
punity. All who have any acquaintance with the
wild Indian, know that he cannot be controlled
by any other sentiment than fear and that the only
guarantee of permanent peace between him and
the white, is thorough conviction, established in
his mind, OF our power to defeat and overwhelm
him in battle. When this conviction is carried homo
to his mind by an energetic and nntemporzing policy
adopted against him in war, and is made constantly
present to his mind by proper disposal of our
troops in times of peace may then. and not till
then, expect permanent relations Of peace with him.