The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-05-21
NO. SO

\ Win tItlL Et1IIclklNC NElllcr II 4.
inpracticable toatfest them without making
war upon the whole tribes, which would re,
suit IN their rapid movement 10 the plains,
where the army cannot follow them
Now, it would seem that IL the military
forces now stationed at Fort sin, Camp
Supply, and the different posts in kansas.
were distributed in camps or posts south 81
the Red River, within supporting iistqnce
Of each other and with teiegraphic comnnu-
nlcation 50 as to supplement- the forces
already IN that vicinity, that raiding parties
would be much more likely to be intercepted
and punished than by the present arfange-
ment.
There seems TO be no necessity for troops
upon the reseryations. There Is no military
protection whatever at the Cheyenne and
Arapahoe and the Wichita agancies, and the
commissaryOf Indian supplies at che KioWs
agency is entirely outside of the. fort
and has no military guard what
ever. The above suggestions have
long since occurred 10 us as important, and
with hearty desire 70 aid In the proniOtion
Of peace and good order among these poF-
tiOns of our fellow-men, We commend them
to thy attention, for such action, il any, as
thy judgment may approve.
''Very truly, etc.
70 3 s'WM.s NICHoISoS,
General Agent OF Executive Committee Of
Friends. g.
ssCYRus BEEDE,
"Chief Clerk Central SUPPLEMENTARY"
Mr.. Hancock win add few remarks
upon this subject, in order the moro clearly
to define what mean when speak Of sub
jugatiOn as applied to the Indians. Just
here l think l may present practical illus
tration of my idea with reference to the
character Of the subjugation and the means
of its accomplishment. Take this Fort SIN
reservation, at which there are several
thousand Indians-about twelve thousand,
Fbelieve-subject to its Jurisdiction; that
is, including all the associated bands within \
the jurisdiction of that superintendeney.
From this source, (which is probably as re-
liable as any we have access to- from the
Society of Friends. we are informed that
the military, in the position they now oc-
cupy, are not only not beneficial, but
hurtful. In private conversation they 90
more into details than in the letter
just read, and refer ta instances that
are well calculated to exasperate as
additional reasons why they particularly de-
sire the removal of those troops. They
seemed to me.tO-entertain avery clear con-
ceptiOR Of the necessity there still isfor nm
influence that may be exerted by the mill
tary, and by the military only They wish
the benefit of that restraining influence |
without immediate, direct, social contact, |
in order that the Indians, and especially the /
Indian women, may not be debauehed and
debased that the men may be restrained
from committing depredations, and pursu-
ing that roaming and wandering life which, |
so long as it may be kept up, viii be an eff
fectual barrier TO the progress ofsthose In
dians in the line of civilization.
Now, as practical application of my
theory, these eight companies of soldiers,
with the others that are already upon the /
borders of Texas, would be ample 10 form 4
a Gordon of posts south of the Red River,
which should be supplemented by tele1
graphic communication, provision for
which, in part at least, was made the other
day by this House. Thus, with means Of /
ready communication, the troops would be
able to get information of every raiding |
party that might pass south of that line
would be able to cut. off and punish such /
parties and reeapture the property that they
might seek to carry into the reservation |
from the plains of Texas. As the agents |
in charge of these Indians say, when !
this shall have been done few |
times the Indians win desist from their |
raids. When they shall have ascertained
that whenever they pass a. certain boun-
Diary they become subject to the control
of the military and dealt with as outlaws
and enemies, it being made the duty Of the |
military to punish them, we are justified |
from the experiment in another section of
the country-I mean In the Territory Of |
Arizona in believing that there will be no
difficulty whatever in keeping the Indians
upon the reservation.
This, then, will be sufficient protection,
so far as regards restraining them in their |
to roam over the country and 20 /
commit depredations upon the property Of |
citizens. Now, you have them localized. |
What is next necessary ia the Iine Of civil /
zation 2 To place them under the control |
of such agencies as will direct their labor,
requiring them to perform Q certain amount /
Of work, and, il need be, giving them as
an encouragement COMPENSATION for their /
labor in the form Of supplies for their susie
nance. In that.scction Of country any ordi- 1
narily ablebodied individual who will
labor an average Of ono hour and half,
or at the outside two hours, each day, win /
be able to secure an abundant supply for
all his natural wants. II you subdivide
that district Of country into sections Of six /
hundred and foEty-aeFes- es-eaOll, ,-eg even into
townships, and put the population Of each
under the control Of one Of the
faithful representatives Of the Society Of /
Friends sustained BY the authority Of the
and with The right 20 direct /
the Indians--a right tbatrWillsbe accorded
to him as soon as you break down the tribal |
Organization Of the Indians and free them
from the domination of their chiefs. which /
is unnecessary stop in their ciyilizae |
tiunsr-- the direction Of this agent o.
fuIlv. and d1woui2r