New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-20
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


Tie House went into Committee on the Senates
amendment to the Military Academy bill, authorizing
the employment in Texas of mounted volunteers.
Mr.. B0NHAM Dem, 5. G referring to the dis-
turbapces IN Texas said that the mere question
whether disturbances existed there not not the
real question before the Committee. Hostlllties, II
would Lot be Denied existed between the lodlsns on
the borders and the white settlers FROM the earnest
attempt at settlement No stipulation could bind them,
ard The question now was-he was not referring to
the Reserve IndisnE-the condition OF things on
the borders of that character as demanded additional
troops for the protection OF the people III there
sbonld be necessity for additional troops, the next
question was, what description OF TROOPS were re-
dniied? 1t had been shown that some ffty-one men,
women and children, had been killed by the 20,
mancLes within few months past, beside an equal
number carried into captivity There vas, then, a var
between the whites aud the COmGnche IndIans, and
The question which presented iisef was, were there
sufficient number Of troops on the borders 10 protect
he people OF Texas ana to keep the Indians II,
check TIE Secretary OF War has declared
that The number of United States troops on the Texan
ICuter is insufficient, nasmuch as The mAlOrlty OF
them are infantry description OF troops useless 10
war with the COmanches. Reference was made to the
eport of the Secretary Of War, wherein the enroll
melt Of a volunteer mounted Texan regiment Was
recommended. There were 500 mlee OF frontier 10
protect exteI ding from the Rio Grande 10 tho country
occu led by the ComaDche Indians IN the Winter, and
the troops stationed on this frontier are totally lne-
Gent 10 project the inhabitants. Well then comes the
question DO 10 remedy the evil, aud pat stoP 10
The Que son TO consider. 1t had been suggested that
two regiments of infantry should be raised; bat tns
plan was not the proper one. IL was known Ihat
bodies Of Infantry were utterly unexplained Win
torsemaDship and required very long time TO make
hem Efficient as cavalry. IL was now 100 late 70
mount infantry aad accustom them ID the use Oh tue
borss for the Summer Wac at hand, the most layer
able time for operations, and II they. allowed the
SUMMER 10 pass they could not operate az anst the
Consnebes this year. II was SAID that the oeMe-
tary of War had long withheld his recommendation
for the TaieiDg Of the Texan regiment. ihat was
true bat now the necessity Tor checking tne hOslles
became so ent that the Secretary OF War made the
Recommendation for volunteer regiment 10 good 1ait
AS this charge, that volunteer regGents murdered
women and children he denied thai such AS the case,
exec nj in instances where il unavoidable In the
operations of regular troops 1t sometmes happened
that women were killed. In the gallant fight OF the
l3.h Of May when forty or nifty INDIANS were killed
Inv the tfoops eight Conanche Indian women were
unayodaby and nnintentiOnally Killed, though the
CON Aander ii the troops upon that occasion was one
OF tlT mott humane and gallant officers 10 the Anerl-
can eeryIce II this occurred with regular troops, II
VS. not 70 be wondered at if il should sometimes hap
pen with irregular troops especially IN wars Where
women took part. But the Government was Donna 70
afford protection TO the people OF IeAss Wnen ieAas
Wgs annexed 10 the States the Government assumed
the duty of protecting the inhabitants against the
saya.e foes W Infected the borders and u will be
CRYING shame if they let the Summer pass without
atoIdlDg them that protection. ~
Mr. PENDLEION lDem OF Ohl0) hoped that the
Senate amendment would be concuHed In by the
Bouss. They had heard it stated by the two gentle
men from Texas that within the limits Of Their die
ts scarcely ont of earshOt Of the people OF the cap
ita Of the State sixty -fOnr men, women ard children
of that STATE were murdered by the Indians. Inc
papers of this morning pive deplorable accounts from
ibe Texan borders, which show that people are nuI-
dered and homes deserted because the Government
will not give the people aid and protection from the
wild and savage pacnee. These accounts snow that
there il an imperative necessity existing that Govern
n EFT should without delay, order the earoument OF
Texan mounted regiment; aud that, II shls was not
done that then the people OF Texas VIII be Jushed III
orc aujzinp a BODY 10 mtlct chastisement on these
lucians wherever they may be found. The gentle
man from Ne w. York Mr. OHM denies that any regu'
lar war existed between the whites and indians.
Whist did the gentleman mean by regular war
The Indians were not in the habit OF 1orm-
ally declaring war before they commenced
teahily and rob- and burn and kill before their IN
ter lions aIe known IL has been also charged against
he people Of Texas that they bad committed great
,vueifie upon the Indians He admitted such was the
c,se bat lie at the time contended that tue ac-
co1rts upon that head we're very maca exaggerated.
I'm, that sncb outra0es at all committed showed
bot the peope OF Texas had been eXasperaied beyond
endurance It showed that the Indian hostIlles were
aracIertzed by ACTS OF craely and atfOcty, Oh nqr
ders and demonstrations, beyond al prsceueht quo
annals of border warfare. Those who contendcd or
ooSueI tbst tbe Reserve Indians were not connected
vita lbefe hottities knew pCthing oil inc MAKER aIu
he gentlemen from New York Mf. Ohnli wnsn assert
inc fbis had allowed hs zeal behalf Of these Indians
10 Qet Tie better Of his prudence. Bat was no. nsSe
Indans tie people feared, bot the depredaou OF luo
Comabehes ana ApAches, who were tue lnfe oiO
mics OF tie Shits people Wac 1t because lnere were
some awioss white men tAe frontier Of ieAhs 'H|'