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Show and begins to despoil them of their homes, the graves of their ancestors, and the means of supplying their rude and simple wants. Surely, it could not be supposed that all this could be accbmplished without any manifestations of op-position and hostility on the part of the Indians; and it cannot he doubted that, aside from the humanitarian and moral aspects of the subject,, it would have been far more economical had we treated with tbese Indians; obtained from them by fair purchase such portions of their country as are desirable for our people; secured to the Indians a location where they could live in peace, and where we could gradually subject them to those influences wbiEh would, in the end, reclaim tbem from their wild and barbarous modes of life. All this, I fully believe, might have been done if we had been prompt.to recognize the rights of the Indians, and to prepare tbem for the occupation of their country. The op-portunity has now passed, and it is probably not an overestimate to say that, besides the valuable lives of our own citizens as well as the lives of the Indians that have already been sacrificed, we have already expended and incurred lia-bilities in our military operations against tbese Indians more than double the amount that would have been required to establish relations with them upon the baais of a firm and lasting friendship. I have no doubt that hostilities may yet be terminated in this region much more speedily by negotiation than by military power, and that thousands of treasure and many valuhle lives may be saved. I trust that the subject will receive from Congress the consideration its importance demands, and that such legislation may be had as will not only result in a speedy terminatio~o~f tbese troubles, but will also harmonize the con0ictingjnterests of the whites and In- *dians throughout the State, and produce in the conduct of onr Indian relations that order and system which is so imperatively demanded. NEW MEXICO. The principal tribes of tbis superintendency are the Navajoes, the Apaches, and the Utahs. The Navajoes occupy the western portion of the Territory, and are the most pomerfal and hostile tribe within its limits. But little progress has been made in reducing them to submission to the authority of our government, and they prove themselves a source of constant vexation and alarm to all our cxponed settlements. The nature of the country and the character of their organization is such that it has hitherto been found impossible, with the forces sent against them, to produce any permanent and decisive results. Their country abounds in mountain fastnesses, rendering it extremely difficult for any adequate military force to pursue them to their retreats; or inflict upon them a blow which has any considerable effect in breaking their power. They are represented as an ingenious and skilful people in manufacturing blankets and otber fabrics, in the cultivation of wheat and corn, and as being in dl otber respects far in advance of all other tribes within the Territory. The Apaches consist of three bands, viz: Jicarillas, occupying the north-eastern portion of the Territory; the Mescaleros, occupying the southeastern portion, and the Gila. Apaches the extreme southwest. With the excep$on of some four hundred of the Mescaleros, who are located at Bosrlue Rodondo, under |
