Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-03-05
Interesting Appeal to the Admins
tration for Protection From
Indians.
THE SUGGESTIONS MADE
How 1t Was Proposed to Guard Against
Four Tribes of Indians and to
Handle Them With Firm
Hand.

| this number being dated November u
of that year, there appears an appea
to congress, giving the needs of mill.
tary protection to the pee pie of this ter.
ritory from hostile Indians, and making
! suggesting thereto and praying thai
the administration and war department
at Washington pursue such a course as
would protect the people in their lives
and property. The<appeal is very inter
esting, and gives an idea of the condl-
tions of the territory fifty years ago
and reads as follows:
The affairs Of this territory demand,
and doubtless will receive, the earliest
possible consideration of the congress
| of the United States, after it's meeting
on the first Monday in December next.
| the mooted question of a state or terri
torial organization for New Mexico 20
question of the greatest consequence to
the whole people of this territory-it
is our purpose, briefly, to call the atter-
ton of the government of the United
States to few of the pressing wants
of the people, that can be remedied only
by the action of the congress Of the
United States.
Being perfectly assured that the ad-
ministration will cheerfully co-opeis. e
in all needful legislation for this terri
tory, we proceed to say, our peculiar
and isolated condition, it's remoteness
from Washington, and the want of
proper facilities of communication, pre-
cludes the possibility of as full an ap-
probation Of our critical condition, by
those who have not been present, as by
those who are daily subject to the Sc
rious evils under which we now exist.
If it were otherwise. we do not believe
the congress Of the United States would
lose single day before applying the
necessary remedies for the protection of
persons and property in this territory.
The numerous murders and robberies
committed since July last. by the
Apaches. Navajoes and Utahs, who en-
circle this extensive territory, admonish
all concerned. and it is unsafe to at
tempt to come here, or to go hence, un-
less travelling parties are sufficiently
strong to protect themselves. The re-
cent butchery Of Mr.. White and the
male portion of his party, and the cap
ture of Mrs. White, her daughter and
female servant by the Indians, at the
Point of Rocks" call for terrible and
an immediate retribution. The destruc-
ton and unjust appropriations of prop
erty at the same time, Is entitled only
to this passing allusion.
The true state and condition of affairs
In this territory, as seen by eye witness
es, have doubtless been communicated
to the proper department at Washing
ton City; but, in consequence of the un-
protected state of the great highway
over the plains to the United States,
parties who have had charge of com.
munications for the states, have been
delayed so long, as to render it more
than probable that much important in
formation, which it was desired should
be laid before the president, before his
message to congress should be de.iv-
cred, was not received at Washington IN
due time. Early in December, we have
reason to believe, that information viii
reach its proper destination.
We have now to record what is pe1-
fectly obvious to every refleccing mind
in this territory.
First. There ought to be. at this mo-
ment. two thousand we'll mounted
troops in this territory.
Second. At the Arkansas Crossing"
and at the Points Of Rocks" two COM
panies Of dragons should be stationed
at each place-a portion Of whom
should at all times be engaged in pene-
trating and scourging the surrounding
country. and protecting the persons anG
property of legitimate travellers.
Third. The four great tribes Of In
dians surrounding this territory, shoult
be confined to certain fixed limits, anG
there should be compelled to remain
under penalty Of utter annihilation.:
| Fourth. The whole country. NORTH
east and south of Santa Fe, over which
the Apaches and others rove, from the
Utah country to Ell Paso. should bt
thoroughly secured, and every Indian
and other robbers, driven from 1t, ex
cept such portion as 1t may be necessar!
to set apart for the Comanches, only.
1t Is folly, we venture to say, to thinl
Of securing peace and quiet by makinl
treaties with these Indians. They mus
be thoroughly chastised, and forced t.
complete and entire submission to tn
mandates Of our government, befor
order can be established in this terri
tory.
The correcting hand must hav
strength, and to cure the evils Of whic
we complain. and to secure the grea
end for which good governments are es
tablished an additional military fore
must must be sent to this country; an
no other troops are wanting but sue
as can form and execute their plans a
one and the same moment.
OF our want of mail facilities. the gov
ernment at Washington is not ignoran
and we confidently abide in the opir
ion, in short time after the meeting {
congress, we shall have the pleasur
Of announcing to our readers, that suit
able mail facilities have been extende
over this territory. And our measure
Of qualification will exceed the usu'
bounds, II we are permitted to add oth'
! emcient means for the protection Of Il
various interssts Of New Mexico ha,
K. Ffi AA. ~ ksf A. t z-l