OCR Text |
Show INDIANS OF NEW MEXICO. 193 should be established and maintained in this Territory similar to those erected, supported, and maintained in other localities by the United States. A part of the expenditure that is now incurred for presente, &c., should be diverted and expended for implements of husband-ry, apd for the hire of other necessary labor. It is believed that with proper care, attention, and management, this plan would prove eminently successful, and would be crowned with gratifying results, and at the end of five or ten years prove to be the luost economical; whilst at the same time we would be giving that protection to both the persons and property of the people of New Mexico which we owe them, and have solemnly promised to extend to them. In doing this we but discharge a great constitutional duty to them, as well as to ourselves, which has, as yet, been only partially performed. The tendency of this policy will he to bring the Indians under the imme-diate jurisdiction and control of the United States, and cause them to how the power of the government, as well as its charity. Should the military arm of the government be required in order to give this policy a fair trial, it should be given as far as practicable, and so much force be used as might be necessary. and no more. The? will have acquired much useful information, ~houldc ircumstances of their own creation render it necessary for them to know and feel the power of the government. This policy contemplates and requires no additional military force; but, on the contrary, if this or a similar policy is not adopted, at no distant day the alternative will be presented to the government of either feeding and clothing the Indians, or of extermi-nating them. That the mountains and plains will, at no distant time, fail to supply them with the necessary foad, is as certain as that the sun gives light at noonday. This being the case, what is to be done? That the Indians will steal, plunder, rob, andmurder, in order to get food, admits of no doubt. If you make war upon and conquer them, the same question arises, What will you do with them? You will have to either take care of them or destroy them. The latter the government will not do, but will be forced to do the former; which will entail a much greater expense and trouble upon the government than the plan above briefly suggested. Under the policy above indicated, the Indians could, to a very great extent, be kept from the white seti tlements, where they contract all the vicious habits of these settle-ments without being impressed with any of the good. Their trade and intercourse with the people could be managed and controlled in such a manner as to benefit both classes. The Pucblo Indians of this Territory were evidently once wild, savage, and warlike, as are the Utahs, Apaches, and Navajoes; yet the old Spanish government in-duced them to abandon their wild rovings and to cultivate the soil, and to lire in illa ages or pueblos, and they now are, and hare been for many years, peaceable and quiet, and live comfortably by the fruits of their labor. May not similar results be expected to come out of the policy above indicated, if judiciously managed; and may not the other wild tribes be itltimately indi~ced to form into pueblos, and to cultivate the soil in like manner, and thus gradually relieve the gov-ernment from the charge of their maintenance? A11 of which is respectfully submitted. |