The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-12-18


We we're In hopes that Texas would have /
had respite from the continuous raids Of
the red devils. from the constant trucking |
of the Indian Bureau to their importunatc /
demands, and from the promises of that /
Bureau TO the people But the promises
and the statements Of this Indian Bureau
are but CANNON, intended only 70 delude
and distract public attention from tho de-
velopment Of the mysteries Of the Indian
Ring, Of which the Bureau IS the centre.
The st. Louis Republican directs attention
to a fact which indicates but too fOrcibly
the dishonesty Of the Indian Bureau, and
that Its every operation is but 20 swindle
the government for the personal benefit Of
those that constitute tho Indian Ring.
Some time ago, Mr. George w. Ingalls,
was appointed as Special Commissioner to
take the census Of the Utah. Idaho, Nevada
and California Indians. lie completed his
work successfully, as he believes, and finds
the number Of Indians IN the named States
and Territories to be less than ten thousand.
Yet Congress, on the estimates and recon-
mendations of the Indian Bureau, has been
making appropriations for them on the
basis of an estimated number of TWENTY-FIVE
thousand; so that the Indian Agents have
received money and supplies for more than
twice as many Indians as are to be found
there.
Every Texan knows Ia what manner
Smith, Commissioner Of theIndian Bureau,
has treated Texas in the affair Of Satanic
and Big Tree. His agreement with certain
Chiefs Of the Comanche and Kiowa tribes to
deliver to them those two condemned
criminals, was an example of his determine
ton to exercise unwarrantable power: while
the fact that Governor Davis, in positive vio-
lation of law, without pardoning them, took
them from the penitentiary and carried
them beyond the limits Of Texas, in
obedience to the commands of Commits
sioner Smith, every Texan is we'll aware,
outraged public sentiment. In order to
conciliate that outraged public sentiment,
the Commissioner promised Gov. Davis
that five Comanches should be delivered to
him to be punished for murders, arsons,
rapes and other nutrages committed in
Texas. But the craven Davis did not dare
to designate the band from which the VIC
Tins were to be selected in his demand for
satisfaction, consequently the Indians have
refused to deliver the five to fill the requisi-
ton, and the Commissioner has ordered
the Indian agent at Fort Sill to withhold
annuity, goods and food from the Co
manches on that reservation until they de-
liver up five of their number as a vicarious
sacrifice to save Davis from the vengeance
of people whose rights and interests he
has so grossly outraged.
The st. Louis Republican says this order
is likely to prove disastrous, for though
the semi-civilized Indians, like the Caddos
and the Wacos, will, without doubt, use
their influence in the interests of peace; yet
| if hostilities should open between the
whites and Comanches and Kiowas, these
afflicted bands will, without doubt, join
their red brethren and make common cause
with them, and if the project to arrest the
five warriors is persisted in, war is certain
to ensue all along the border.
Such are the opinions of the press outside
of Texas. The facts as they exist in Texas,
are unchanged; the raids are as frequent
and as deadly as they have ever been. To
the west of u.s. nearly every county is being
raided on by Indians. We quoted from the
Stock Journal, published at Plcasanton, in
Atascosa county, but day or two since
detailing the incidents of a raid, attended
with an unusual loss of life and property.
Recently, We have recorded the death of
Mr.. Hillar, of Brown county, from wounds
inflicted by Indians. Our accounts from
the frontier, from Red River to the Rio
Grande, are that the Indians are plundering
and numbering the citizens. From Fort
Griffin, the commandant of that post keeps
his troops scouting, but with little or no
effect. The Ell Paso Stage Company, as we
learn, require military escorts to their stages.
In word, since the release of Satanic and
Big Tree, the Comanches are more bold,
more treacherous and more deadly in their
raids, which have become much more fire.
quent The military authorities exhaust
their means and their every effort to protect
the frontier of Tcxas-but this result is SIM
ply impraticable from the paucity of troops
at the command of the general command
ing, and the character of troops assigned to
] duty in this Military Department.
A large majority of the troops in Texas
are negroes, and happy would it be for
Texas if the government would withdraw
her negro troops from Texas-they are
nuisance and an evil, and are inadequate,
from their nature, to the task assigned
them. If the government will not give us
white troops, we would rather that the Fed
eral government would devolve the defense
of the Texas frontier entirely upon the
State of Texas. The present condition of
things is insupportable, aud frontier pro-
lection will be the first and most prominent
demand that viii be made upon the new adj
ministration, coming, as it will, fresh from
the people; and in the new Adjutant Gen
eral, we shall probably have a man of mill
tary education, of ripe experience, and of
ability adequate to cope with the over
whelming evil.
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