Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-11-26
PROTECTION OF THE BORDER.
Governor Martin Writes u Letter urging
Some Action in the Matter.

Governor Martin Writes u Letter Urging
Some Action in the Matter.
TOPEKA, November 17.-Regarding the
protection of settlers in Southwest Kansas
from the Indians, Governor Martin writes
the Kansas Representatives as follows:
MY DEAR SIRS:-I address you, as the rep
-esentatives of Kansas, on a subject OF grave
interest to many of the citizens OF this State.
As you know, IL very large population mas,
within the past year, settled in the counties
of Barber, COmanche, Clark, Meade, Seward,
Finney and Ham ltOn. These counties are
located i'll Southwestern Kansas adjoining
or near the Indian Territory. The citizens
who have occupied them are there Dy
invitation of the United States Govern
ment. They are peaccable, industrious, in,
telligent people Thousands of them served
in the ranks of the Union army during the
late civil war, and they are, one ana all,
justly entitled to the protection OF the Gov
eminent.
South of the counties mentioned, the Gov
eminent has located several tribes OF In
dams. Many of these Indians are savage,
turbulent and dangerous. The fact that
they are peaceablc to-day, is no guarantee
that they will be peaceable next week or
next month. So long as they are where they
are. and what they are, and the borders or
Kansas are left exposed and defenseless, the
people of the counties lying next the Indian
Territory will be uneasy and apprehenSlve.
Indian raids are possible at any time. There
is nothing to prevent an invasion OF the Dor
ders OF Kansas. or to protect our citizens
from it's resulting horrors. The State OF
Kansas can not afford to maintain standing
army on it's southwestern frontier in order
to keep the Indians within the boundaries of
their territory, and it should not be expected
TO maintain such an army in order to protect
its peaceable citizens, ana give them assur-
ance of security. This is q duty which prop
erIy aud rightfully devOlves on the Govern
ment of the United States.
In my Judgment absolute protection and
security can, not be guaranteed 10 tne 81 clt,
nf ntlth Xyn
General Government establishes at least two
military posts on or near our southern
boundary line. One post should De estab.
lished near the southwestern corner OF
Meade County. And all these posts should
be maintained as long as the Indian Territory
is reserved for the occupancy OF Indians
having tribal relations.
II NAV be said that there is no danger of an
Indian outbreak. That is always the reply OF
the Government to the demand of it's citizens
for guarantees of immunity. But twice
of Kansas been invaded by the same In
dams who now occupy the country adjOin
ing Southwestern Kansas. knowledge OF
these facts naturally and inevitably inspires
q feeling of uneasineSS and apprehension
| The settlers do not know when an outbreak
may occur; they do know that no adequate
| precautions to prevent an outbreak nave
| been adopted. Thus they live in constant
| dread of an Indian raid, and are liable, at any
moment. to be thrown into panic, which
| will send men, women and children flying in
| terror from their peaceful homes such
| panic occurred early in July last, and the
| losses, the sufferings, the decentralization at
| tending it were almost as great and as dis
| treSsing as though an actual invasion mad
| occurred These people are justly entitled
| not only to absolute protection against
| Indian raids. but to such an assurance OF
| protection as will inspire confidence among
| them and prevent that apprehension which
| breeds panic. And such assurance can not
be given unless military posts are estaD
| llshed and ma ntained along the southwest
| ern borders of Kansas.
l do not know by what authority such
| posts are located and maintained. If the &C
| ton of Congress is required, trust that you
| will. at the earliest possible moment, intro
| duce and urge the passage of a biz having
| this end in view. If the posts can be estab.
| lished by the order of the President, or OF
| the General commanding the army, / hope
| you will urge upon these officers the vita
| Importance of prompt action. to the end thai
| the people of Southwestern Kansas may not
| only be assured of protection, but of such
| adequate safeguards as will inspire conn
| uence aud prevent alarm and panic.
JOHN A. MARTIE.