The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-24
THE UGLY .UTES.
Gov Pitkin, Of Colorado, Cautions
the Interior Department,
And Recommends a More strlnpen,
Policy Towards the Indians.
Secretary sChurz Replies TO the

WARRINGTON, October 49, secretat,
schurz to-day received the following tele
gram from the Governor OF Colorado:
DENVER, COL, October %.
Hon. Cal Sctura, kecretary Of hs Interior
Warrington, D. C.:
Information from southwestern Colora
do satisfies me that most OF 0uray's war
riors were In the Thornburg fight. TC
surrender criminals, 0uray must surren,
der his tribe, which he Is powerless to do.
They adhere 10 him for protection only,
and will not submit to punishment; Meth.
or will they surrender the White river
utes, who are bound to them by the closest
ties and are no more guilty than them.
selves, They whipped Thornbusg's com.
mand and now Merritt retires. Il cannol
be disguised that the fighting men OF the
tribe are hostile and flushed with victory;
that they are sayages; they take no prfs.
oners, except women, and that their tro.
phies are not banners but scalps.
II the policy Of military inactivity con.
tinues our frontier settlements are liable
to become scenes Of massacres. Unless the
troops move against the Indians the Ip.
dians will move against the settlers. Must
three hundred miles OF border settlements
be subjected TO this peril? The General
Government Is doing nothing to de'end
our settlements. The State cannot defend
all this border, except by attacking the
enemy. In behalf Of our people, l repre-.
sent this danger to you, and urge the gov.
ernment TO recognize that war with the
Barbarians now exists, which involves the
lives OF the numerous exposed mining set.
Elements 1t can be ended only by a
most vigorous and uninterrupted warfare
(Signed) FREDRRICH W. PiTKlS,
Governor.
To this message the Secretary telegraph.
ed the following reply:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2S.
Governor Pitkin, Denver:
Your dispatch is received. entrusted
with the important duty OF special agent
to the Utes Gen. Charles Adams, a citizen
OF Colorado, who q month ago was repre-.
sented 70 me BY yourself as a gentleman
OF excellent character, uncommon ability
and energy, intimately acquainted with
the Utes and eminently qualified 10 deal
with them in an emergency. He Is with
them now, and his last report was that
"noneoi the Southern and only part OF
the White River Utes have been engaged
In the trouble, and that all rumors OF iep.
relations OIL the reservation are untrue,
except driving off horses from Bear River,
and this was before Ouray's order to cease
fighting was received.
Gen. Adams reports this after having
traversed Southwest Colorado, the source
OF your information. He also states:
1.-The captive women and children, who
have assurances are safe, will be delivered.
Troops should not proceed south from
White river, as / believe your conditions
to secure peace will be complied with"
This report Of responsible man, who
has your confidence as we'll as mine, and
who speaks from personal observation,
is certainly entitled to credit. The liberia
ton Of the captive women and children Is
the first thing to be accomplished.
Gen. Adams expects TO bring them In II
not interferred with In few DAYS, He
will then also report on the surrender of
the guilty Indians, meanwhile the military
preparations are not relaxed, SO that a
iailure:ot the efforts mentioned may be fol.
lowed by energetic action. We are en-.
deaVoring TO prevent general war with
the whole Ute tribe, which will be a better
way to protect your border settlements
than by Q general attack on the Indians
by armed citizens, az your dispatch seems
TO suggest. 1t is therefore earnestly hoped
that every effort be made to prevent an
unnecessary. extension OF trouble which
may be precipitated by inconsiderate &C.
ton.
[sigued.l @. sCnuaz.
Secretary.