elves invincible. In these fights, valuable lives are
sacrificed, but they are necessary sacrifices for the common good.
When one tribe is severely chastised, the surrounding Indians hear
of it, and, becoming alarmed, for a time they behave themselves with
propriety. This happy state of things will continue until some
weak move on the part of government officials counteracts this good
influence, when, misconstruing kind acts for fear, the red men at
once dig up the tomahawk and boldly march upon the war path, to spill
innocent blood. Such results often follow when the power is taken from
the experienced military commanders, and vested in the hands of (often
the fact) inexperienced superintendents. These men pompously
invite the Indians to grand councils, where unmeaning speeches are
manufactured to suit the occasion. Usually when thus summoned, the
wily savages are delighted to go into council, for, as a rejoinder to
the many concessions which are easily obtained from them, and which
they are always ready to make after assuming a little coquetry, they
receive presents which the superintendent informs them are merely
tokens of the high appreciation with which they are regarded by their
Great Father at Washington.

It is the opinion of Kit Carson "that the Territory of New Mexico will
continue to remain in its present impoverished state during the time
that the mountain Indians are allowed to run at large. The only true
remedy" (he says) "for this great evil is to compel the savages to
form settlements by themselves. Then and there assist and teach them
to cultivate the soil. In time they will be able to gain a maintenance
independent of the General Government; and, to a certain extent, they
will become responsible for their acts."

The people who form the chief population of the territory have so
often been deprived of their property that it is not strange that they
have become poverty-stricken and indolent. It is enough to strike down
the enterprise of any nation to have been so long badly governed, and
then, without any resources in the way of arms and ammunition, to be
compelled to beat back hostile Indians. Under the provisions of the
government of the United States, they are improving, but yet, even
now, they have not the protection which they require, and should
receive. In their territory it takes a daring man to venture his
small capital in raising stock. To be sure, claims are allowed them by
Congress for the