Year: 1867

Under the above heading the Ai1 Ca'youi7 of the 18th inst. has long and wcll-wordcd editorial upon the condition of affairs in this Territory. The writer evidently means to be impartial and reasonable and has taken some pains to inform himself upon the mum Der of troops here, and the kind of warfare needed to overcome the Apache.

 He admits the people here have much to complain of, but says the thought of abandon ing the country should not be entertained, counscls patience. and cites the Florida war as occupying many years Now patience isa quality of which our people are possessed to wonderful degree There are more Jobs here than in any country in which it has been our lot 10 reside. They are not impa- tient for the conclusion of the Indian war, or foolish enough to think that it can be com peted in day, but they are somewhat i'm patient thai it is not properly beg"7 and that there is no encouraging prospect ahead so long as Indian affairs here are so grossly mis- understood at the East and at San Fracisco

 The Alto writer makes some good suggest ions about the way to fight the Apache with success, but he is grossly in error when he intimates that we have commanders here who arc afraid to get into the mountains with their operations, but are content to play havoc with the vagabonds along the rivers. and flaming up rows with the Indian superintendents.n We know of no such com manders, and the story is evidently based upon the false reports circulated in San Francisco regarding Gen. Gregg's movements west of Prescott The ropudiation of that officers general orders defining hostile In dians. has made it appear that he had been moving against friendly Indians, or " the vag- abonds along the rivers,' when nothing of the kind is true.

 Gen. Gregg declared the Wallapais and certain Indians between here and the Cobra do, not those living on that river as un- friendly, and that he was fully warranted in doing so is abundantly shown by their dep relations both before. and since that declara- ton.

 In the Sacramento mining district, in the foul murder of Mir Simpson and his com panions, they have exhibited anything but a desire for peace, and it is the height of folly to say that they are, or have been, less hostile than the simon pure Apache

 The writer goes on to propose the estab- lishmcnt of posts in the Apache country, and fighting the Apache with his own system Of warfare which is all very we'll, but so long as the power of controlling all the details of movements here rests with an officer in San Francisco, however well disposed that officer may be- but little in the way of positive sue cess can be looked for. Our commanders must have the power to establish or to aban- don posts. to consolidate or to scatter their troops, on the spur of the moment without delaying to advise with any one, make such movements, whatever their character, as are best calculated to punish our red and willy foe, who is as alert as a jack-rabbit, and as stealthy as a wolf, changing position con stantly.

 If we cannot have more men, then let our commanders have full power over those they have. Let all the movements be directed here. upon the ground according to the necessity of the hour, and where there can be no mistake in knowing who are the hos tile Indians and whom to punish. There car be no doubt that, "with proper handling the force already in the country can do [ great deal, but "proper handling" cannot b, directed from San Francisco, where the att tnde of the Indians and the measures called for by the same, cannot possibly be known 1T time for cifec i've action. Let there be re- form in the matter, and, even without ar increase of troops, although much needed our word for it, there will speedily be a great Improvement in our Indian war, and the people will not longer be discouraged iron their labors.