The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-20
House Of Representatives.
WASHINGTON, April 10, 1860.

WAsiNS6ION, April AooV'
PROTECTION FRONTIER OF TEXAS
The House went into Committee the Senates amend
ment to tho Military Academy bill authorizing the en-
ployment in Texas Of mounted volunteers.
Mr.. BosHAN (dem Of s. c. argued that the calling
Of such the most erectual plan which could
be adopted bring close the Indian depredatons.
would be crying shame let the summer pass without
reducing the savages to subsection.
Mr. PENDxToN, (dem) OF Ohio, thought every conside
ration OF justice the people Of Texas and economy in
the affairs Of the general government required the amend
ment to be concurred in by the House The government
had been derehct in its duty which would justify the PEG.
pie in rising and inctpg cnassement TO the fullest ex
tent on the Indians, wherever found.
Another why this force should be employed was
critical condition with Mexico, growing out OF events
the Rio Grande, Cornas having reappeared and the
American troops gone over in pursuit Of him.
Mr. ;5s, e e. 10 he %
urbencss existed there rot not the real question
tefore the committee Hoslites it would not pc denied
xsed between the Indians the borders and the white
etters from the earliest attempt at settlement No stpu
alton could bind them, and the question washe
referring TO the Reserve Indans-was the condition Of
things the borders Of such character demanded ad
oonal troops for the protection of people there
should be necessity for additional troops, the next ques
ton what description OF troops required? It
bad been shown that some fsty-one men, women and
children, had been killed by the Comanches within
few months past besides equal number carried into
captivity. There was, then, between the whites
and the Comanche Indians, and the question which pre-.
sented itself wa5, were there Suf1cent number OF
troops the borders to protect the people OF Texas and
to keep the Indians check? The Secretary Of War has
declared that the number of United States troops on the
Texan frontier insufficient inasrch as the majority of
them infantry, description OF troops useless in
war with the Comanches. Reference was made to the
report of the Secretary Of War wherein the enrolment OF
volunteer mounted Texan regiment was recommended.
There eight hundred miles Of frontier to protect,
extending from the Rio Grande to the country occupied
by the COmenche Indians in the winter, and the troops
stationed on this frontier totally inefficient to
protect the inhabitants. Well, then comes the
q how 70 sd the sd s
was the question TO consider had been sug-
eested that two regiments Of infantry should be raised
but this plan was not the proper one was known that
bodies Of infantry utterly unacauanted with horse
manship, and required very long sine to make them
efficient cavalry. 1t now too late 70 mount in
antry and accuslom them the Of the horse for the
summer wps ut hand the most favorable time for opera
tions and they allowed the summer 70 pass they could
that the Secretary Of War had long withheld his recon-
mendation for the raising Of this Texan regiment That
was true the necessity for checking the hoees
became urgent that the Secretary Of War had made the
recommendation for volunteer regimenin good faith AS
to this charge tnss volunteer regiments murdered women
instances where was unavoidable In the operations Of
regular troops sometimes happened that women were
killed. In the gallant light OF the 18th OF May, when forty
or fifty Indians killed by the troops eight Comanche
Indian women unRvodably and Internationally kill
.as one Of the most humane and gallant officers 10 The
American service II this occurred with regular troops
to be wondered 1t il it should sometimes happen
took part But the government bound to afford pro-
lection to the people Of Texas When Texas annexed
protecting the inhabitants against the savage foes who
tested the borders, and it will be crying shame If they
let the summer pass without aordng them that pro.
lection.
Mr. PrSplYroS, (dem) OF Ohio hoped that the Senate
amendment would be soncurred in by tho House. They
mad heard stated by the two gentlemen rom Texas,
that within he limits Of their astrics scarcely out Of
earsbot Of the people Of the capital OF the State, sixty
fonr men women and children OF that State were muir
l red nv he md he Of
deporabe accounts fro the Texsn borders, which show
that people murdered and homes deserted because
the government will not give the people aid and protec
ton from the wild and savage Apaches These accounts
that there Ii imperative necessity existing shat
Of Texan mounted regiment ana that, II this was not
done that then the people OF Texas will be justified in
ganzne body to inic. chastisement on these Indians
York (Mr. Oin) denies that any regular existed
between the whites and Indians. What did the gentle
man mean by regular WARP The Indians were not in
the habit OF formally declaring before they com
mepced hostties. No. but they make their approach
se.niy and rob- and burn, and XIII before
people OF Texas that they had committed great cruees
upon the Indians He admitted such the case, but
he at the came time contended that the accounts upon
that bead were much exaggerated. But that ouch
ourages were at all committed showed that the people OF
Texas had been exsaperatted beyond endurance. It
acts OF cruelty and aociy Of murders and assassna
ons beyond ali precedent in the annals OF border war
fare Those who commended imagined that the Reserve
Indians were not connected with these hosities knew
nothing Of the matter and the gentleman from New York
(Mr Oln) when asserting this had alo we'd his zeal on
behalf OF these Indians 10 get the better Of his prudence
But was not these Indians the people feared but the
depredatons OF the Comanches and Apaches, who were
the inveterate enemies OF the white people. Was II
because there were some hwless white men on tho
frontier Of Texas that the whole population we're 70 De
left eefencess to the attacks Of savage ndans9 was nst
good reason for Withholding the protecting arm OF the
government from the defence al innocent ctzsns twas
the concurrent opinion of al persons well informed upon
this subject that required mounted men, good riders
and expert marksmen-men accustomed 70 border
lie, accustomed TO rsilng-men Who can move " the
direction Of the and BY the stars ana natural lorna
ton OF the countryto opsrate successfully against the
Indiana This force be organized at once. Such
force ready 70 enter upon campaign against the