Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-07-18
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THE GOVERNOR TO The SECRETARY
OF WAR.
TWENTY-NINE YEARS IN Us

THE GOVERNOR TO The SECRETARY
OF WAR.
The Governor Calls the Attention of the
Secretary of War to the Defenseles
Condition of Our Southwestern Boz
ders.
The governor, last week, sent the
following letter to VIM. G. Endicott, sec
rotary of war:
Topeka, KS, July 9, 1885.
To , the h Honorable Secretary Of Var, Washington"
S1R:-For over forty-eight hours past
dozen counties in Southwestern Kan
sas have been in state Of wild excite.
ment and panic. Thousands of settler.
have abandoned their homes, their
crops and stock, and fled to the towns
for protection which, if the supposed
danger had been real, could not have
been afforded them by the towns. Fol
the town people were no better armed
nor better prepared to repel an Indian
raid, than were those of the country
| districts.
For weeks past, the imminent danger
of such a panic, if not Of an Indian
invasion, has been apparent. The
Cheyennes were known tobe discomfort.
ed and threatening, and our south west
ern borders were exposed and defenseles
More than two weeks ago l called the
attention of the honorable secretary OF
war to this situation of affairs, and on
the 26th of June, last, earnestly re.
quested the general commanding this
department to station a cavalry force
on the southern border of Kansas, be-
tween Barber and Meade counties in
order to prevent an Indian invasion,
and give assurance Of protection to our
peaceful citizens.
1.-THE National government locates, in
the Indian Territory, large numbers OF
savage, disconnected and dangerous In
dams, it is its plain duty to provide an
ample force to restrain them within the
boundaries of that territory, and on their
reservation. The state of Kansas cannot
afford to maintain standing army on
its southern border, and ought not to be
compelled to maintain such an army, in
order to protect its borders from invasion
by the Indians, and to give assurances OF
safety and protection to its citizens.
This is duty which the general govern
ment, not the State, should discharge.
So long as the Cheyennes. or other
turbulent and dangerous tribes, are in
the Indian Territory, so long will the
borders of Kansas be menaced by such
dangers and disasters, such sutferings and
losses, as have resulted during the past
forty-eight hours.
It is the plain duty of the National
government, it seems to me, to station
permanent and adequate military
force on the southwestern borders of
Kansas. Posts should be located and
maintained, at convenient points, from
the west line ofBarber to Seward county.
And these points should be so connected
with each other, by pickets or vidette
outposts, as to guard all that section of
Kansas. The troops stationed at Reno
and Supply, afford little or no protection
to the borders of Kansas. The Indians
have only to move westward q
few miles, on their own reserva-
ton, and they are out of
reach of the troops, with the borders of
Kansas exposed and defenseless, within
easy striking distance.
Calling your attention to this condition
of affairs, l request that prompt and
adequate measures be adopted for the
protection of the borders of this state
against any possible invasion by the
Indians of the territory. In the name
of the people of Kansas, enter protest
against further continuance of the
policy, civil or military. which has,
twice before, permitted he Indians to
invade our borders with fire and sword,
and which, during the past forty-eight
hours, has sent thousands of people,
men women and children, fleeing in ter
ror from their peaceful homes.
1t may be that this panic is without
reason. It may be that no Indians have
crossed the line. 1t is, however, GER
tainly true that more than one hundred
Chey ennes-the worst of their tribe
have escaped from their reservation, and
gone, so the commanding officer at Reno
believes, to the head of the Cimarron.
But whether this panic is baseless or not;
whether the Indians have invaded Kan
sas or not, 80 long as they are where
they are, and what they are, 80 long
will Kansas be menaced and apprehen-
sive, and so long will the citizens of our
counties be liable to such
panics, with their resulting demoraliza
ton, losses and suferings.
The commanding general of this de-
partment has just ordered eight COM
panies of cavalry to our southwestern
border. This force, if situated as have
indicated, and permanently maintained,
will be ample to give the citizens of the
exposed country assurances of protection.
And sincerely hope that permanent
military posts will be established along
the border at the points I have men,
toned, go that the people o. this state
may in the future, be permitted to pur-
sue their peaceful avocations with the
confident assurance that there is no
danger nor possibility Of On invasion by
the Indians of the Territory.
I have the honor to be with very
great respect,
Your very obedient servant,
JOHN A. MARTIN,
Governor Of Kansas. |
General Grants Preface.
By Courtesy Of ChaA L. Webster 4 Co. publishers |
of the forthcoming book.
New York Tribune.
NM 81 N~I - Il