The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-02-05

MOUNTAIN cErx, Jan. IS, 1874.
Messrs. Editors In passing through
your city few days since heard from 4
few members Of tho Legislature some az
the views that would 30 presented III CON
1idoring . bin Tor frontier defense. But
few measures viii come before their BODY
which possess deeper interest 70 the fhoa.
sands Of settlers distributed an along ne
line Of tho Texas frontier. And am in
clined 70 the belief that the plan Of prolcc-
ton favored By the larger portion of our
Legislators win fail 20 utterly to accomplish
the object IN view, that Il would be better
for the general intorosts Of tho State not 70
leglslato upon the question At en-. The
iaVorite plan seems 70 bo, 70 organize some
thing IKE small homo-guard companies, 20
be called into service only when It is actu-
ally known that Indians arc in the country.
As . matter Of course there cannot well
be any efficient concert Of action in an or
ganization tho different parts Of which arc
so widely distributed and so impcrfcctly
connected. And Il is known by all from
tlersman 70 be equally q matter Of course
that by tho time Il Is known that Indians
are IN and the loose homeguafd company,
without discipline or drill. can be gathere
together, the savages have mounted the =
1
arc driving back 10 the reserve with speed
that renders pursuit hopeless.
II Texas means 20 fight tho Indians, she
should fight them with regularly organ
ized military force. The men should be fed,
clothed, armed, disciplined and drilled as
soldiers. Sometimes good service may be
rendered by the rude militia plan proposed,
bnt generally the service will not compen-
safe the State for the expense incurred.
For thero arc two paths travelled by al
most every Taiding party coming down from
the reserYation-ono coming down across
tho 'sNarrows,n where the Wichita and
Brazos approach within few miles of each
other, the other passing in near Double
Mountains, generally few miles west Tho
former body scatters through tho Fort Grif-
fn, Palo Pinto and JacEsboro country the
latter spreads along tho Concho and Colo
rado waters. Before these parties divideup
into small stealing parties, they move in
large bodies, most Of them on foot and the
remainder badly mounted. On their return
many 20 into camp In the mountains west
of tho mouth Of Double Mountain Fork OF
the Brazos, OF about the fresh-Water streams
and lakes at the edge Of Stakod Plains Tho
time TO strike them would be IN coming
down, for they donot fight as well on foot as
tAAIy ~ AAOAAAN~Af t-AA ~ tAAAA y ~ NAA
ing would prevent the injury intended in-
stead ofmerely revengingit. II sufficient
force could bo organized, say 800 or 1000
men, stationed out on the fresh waters OF
the plains-it would DO more 70 prevent In
dian depredations than three times the same
numberof men scattered eli along the bor-
der in loose organizations. One-third Of tho
men could be continually engaged In scout
ing, and when q trail was found coming
down, reinforcements, Il necessary, could
readily be obtained, for upon this upper
part OF their route theingnding parties move
slowly, and the whole band could be pur-
sued and defeated before it could divide to
distribute itself through tho settlements;
and this too Is the only method that win
prevent the establishment Of Indian camps
within easy reach Of the frontier homoa.
Thispian viii cost the State moro moncy
than tho home guard system, but Il Il can
effect protection as there Is reason 10 believe,
tho increased settlement Of the western part
Of the State and the consequent increased
revenue viii largely compensate for the e.
pense. And remember that Il Is not merely
a question with Us n regard TO property
stolen from rs By the seyages. Tho lives
Of men and women often have 20 bo
counted among the losses, and how win the
Legislature Of Texas know how 90 cot
price upon the blood Of heE citizensl
pAIo pKNro.