The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-05-21

charged against Indians. The depredatine
Kiowas and the Quahada COmshches arC
utterly without excuse. They are com,
PEELED 10 90 back as far as lS47 to find q
single substantial grievance of which 10
complain. Since that time the United
States have given them a noble reservation,
and have provided amply for all theiH
wants. No white man has gone upon their
lands to injure them the government has
failed in no particular of its duty toward
them; yet they have persisted in leaving
their reservation, and marauding in Texas.
They have not done this through any misap-
prehension of the intentions of the govern
ment, from the pressure of want, or under
the smart of any real or fancied wrong.
am disposed to think that the messages re-
/ Gently delivered to them by their agent and
| by the special commission sent to them the
| last summer; the unequivoeal declarations
made to their chiefs on the occasion of a
recent visit to Washington; and, especially,
/ the chastisement inflicted on the Quahada
i Comanches at McClellan's creek, in Octo-
| Der, by Col. Mackenzie, have fully con-
vinced these tribes that the government is
in earnest and that continuance in their
present course will involve, as it ought, their
extirpatiOn. This may be enough; but, If
it proves otherwise, they should be signally
punished. An example made here would
do much to strengthen the policy of peace,
both with other Indians and with the
/ country at large, as well as free the borders
of Texas from scourge that has become
intolerable
Mr.. Hancock-Mr Chairman, these In
dians>have no claim supon Texas. They
have no habitations or homes there. They
are situated forty miles beyond the limits
of the borders of that State, and $50 to 200
miles from the portions of the State where
they commit most of their depredations
They have been supplied with the necessa-
ries of life. Sufficient money has been APP
propriated yeGr after year to procure for
them an ample sustenance. They are stu
ated in one of the most desirable sections
of the whole country, where the climate Is
salubrious and pleasant and the soil most
productive; and yet these depredatiOns con-
.tinue. 1t cannot be alleged that it is in re-
taliation for any wrongs that the people of
Texas have committed toward them, for
they are beyond the reach of the people of
that State, unless perchance it might be
such as for felonious purposes seek to make
inroads upon them; but do not know
of a single instance of-the kind,
and probably there have been very
few, if any such occurrences, since
they possess nothing that would be sufi-
GENTLY attractive to induce any one, how
ever feloniously inclined, to seek to obtain
it at such great expense and peril as would
be necessary to reach it. There is, then,
no excuse for these depredations, and no
provocation, and they arise simply from
want of appreciation on the part Of the In
dians of their obligations toward the gov
eminent and all its people in consideration
of the treatment that they have received.
This has been kept up persistently to tho
currence. Our herds are driven off; our
people are murdered, if it becomes neces-
sary to the accomplishment of their bust
ness of plunder; not that they probably
care for that as a primary object, but If it
comes in the way of their mission of theft
to kill they do so unhesitatingly. The |
amount of property, apart from the loss of
life, the suffering that has been undergone
by the people of the State, has been very
great. They have been special sufferers,
and up to this time have received no ade-
'quate protection against the recurrence of
these wrongs.
r l say it is altogether feasibfe-yes, il is
very easy-to accomplish that which will
effectually protect the people of all
the northwestern border of the State
without the expenditure of an addi-
tional dollar The military that is there
at the present time upon the reservation
(eight cavalry companies, kept up at
heavy expenditure, with most comfortable
houses built for the accommodation of the
officers and of the men) is practically not
worth a single dollar to all that country
south of them, which has been the theatre
of these Indian depredations. It would
cost no more to place them in position
where they would be enabled cIfectually to
cut off the Indians than it does to keep
them where they are at present stationed,
except the expense of moving them.
1t may be insisted by some that for Con-
gress to dictate or direct in a matter of this
sort would be somewhat IN the nature of an
encroachment upon the prerogatiYes of
another department of the government.
Ordinarily that might be-so; but-we now
have before us one of the most difficult sub
iects of legislation that it will probably be-
come the duty of this or any other Congress
to deal with. 1t is sai generiS; one about
which comparatively few persons have any
practical information. We are to-day de-
pendent upon reports from the different
bureaus and agencies that have charge Of
this business chat really give little more in
formation than column of figures, with
out note or comment, without preface, even,
to direct our researches In finding out what
the facts are. We need some welI-deined
legislative policy, a policy which shall not
only indicate the general oatlines-0f peace
and means of sustenance, but directions how
it shall be done and by whom it shall be
done. A -
If it is to be OF this duplex Character, in
volving the agencies both Of the Interior
Department and of the War sDepartment,
say it is not only NO nO-encroachment upon the
.prerogatives of the President, who mas been
given immediate command Of the army,
but it is our duty TO indicate Just how the
military shall he used in carrying out that
policy wbich.we may judge best calculated
to subserve the ends we desire to accom-
plish; and if those troops were taken
where they are, there viii be no d
any outbreak or disturbances
son of their absence. "a
full appreciation, =
the Society of
those resery
that theN
that