be, to draw drafts upon this office, payable as soon as the appropriations shall have been made. It is presumed that you will find no difficulty in cashing such drafts, as they will, of course, be very desirable as remit tances east. Enclosed is a section of a map of New Mexico, embracing, it is supposed, the portion of territory occupied by the Indians, or the greater part of it, on which I will thank you to designate, as accurately as may be in your power, the locations of the several tribes, and the extent of country severally claimed by them, and return it to this office by the first opportunity. You will also please to indicate the proper locations for agents and sub-agents, informing the department by letters in detail of the number of each class you deem necessary to aid in a proper administration of Indian affairs in New Mexico, the salaries which should be allowed them, the objects for which expenditures will generally be necessary, in connexion with the different agencies, and the amount that will be required for each. It is hoped that this and such other information, having a bearing on the subject of a proper organization for the Indian branch of the service, will be received in time to be considered and acted upon before Congress rises, so that there will be no unavoidable delay in adopting such a course of policy and such measures as are necessary to a prompt and effective administration of the affairs of this department in that quarter. . This communication will be handed to you by Mr. Isaac B. Dunn, a brother of Mrs. White, who proceeds to New Mexico as bearer of despatches, under an escort furnished by the War Department, but the object of whose journey is to seek to aid in rescuing his sister and her child, or to afford her protection in her destitute and bereaved situation, if their rescue shall have happily been effected. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. S. CALHOUN, Esq., Indian Agent, Santa Fe. ORLANDO BROWN. CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, April 17, 1849. SIR: I am here on my way to St. Louis, and will speed forward with all practicable despatch. I have with me fourteen persons, all told-four females among them of my family. Six others will join me at St. Louis. From Independence I shall have with me twenty bold and enterprising adventurers, several of whom served in the war against Mexico, as volunteers under my command. These young gentlemen will do faithful service in Mexico. For them I desire arms, &c., &c. I have asked for rations and transportation for baggage for twenty-not less than fourteen, the number now with me. I would be glad to include the gentlemen referred to above, for I regard them as absolutely necessary to the entire success of my efforts to discharge my duties in New Mexico. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Colonel Medill, required of me a memorandum of the number of my family before I left Washington, to the end, as I understood, to have the necessary orders issued from the proper bureaus. I gave the number-twelve; two others have come with me. I mention these matters to say, this morning, at the moment of my departure for this place, I received a letter from General John Wilson, saying it. was necessary to address separate papers to each bureau, for arms, &c., rations, and transportation. I have done so in general terms. I have only to inquire whether it would be improper to cause orders to issue in general terms to the proper officers to furnish arms, transportation, and rations upon my requisition to such only as should be present. I hope to hear from you at St. Louis. Wishing you entire success in the administration of your department, I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, Hon. T. EWING, Secretary of the Interior, Washington City, D. C. JAMES S. CALHOUN. 28 MILES WEST OF FORT LEAVENWORTH, May 24, 1849. SIR: I write only to repeat what I addressed to you two or three days ago, that we are still halted at this point, awaiting orders from General Brooke, from whom we have no certain intelligence as to his arrival; and when he does arrive, in consequence of the feebleness of our oxen, our pregress must be slow. For obvious reasons this state of things is to be regretted, for I apprehend it is important that I should be at Santa Fe at the earliest practicable moment. I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, To the COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. J. S. CALHOUN, Indian Agent, Santa Fe. This note was written to the Secretary of the Interior before I remembered it should be addressed to you. J. S. C. SIR: You are already advised of my departure from Fort Leavenworth on .the 16th of May, and I have now to inform you that we reached Santa Fe on the 22d of the present month, having been employed in marching forty-nine days-our halting days numbering nineteen, a greater portion of which was six miles west of Kaw river, in obedience to an order issued by General Brooke to Colonel Alexander, commanding the troops. This, you will perceive, is the eighth day in camp at this place, not having been able to procure quarters elsewhere; I have the promise, however, of an adobe building at the enormous rent of $100 per month, to which an additional expenditure must be made to Americanize it, so that it may be inhabited with any degree of comfort. This excessive rent I was compelled to submit to, or remain in camp. All the buildings in Santa Fe are of mud, with floors and coverings for the roof of the same material. Until our government established a saw mill near this place, sawed lumber could not be had at any price; since then it has been sold as high as $80 per thousand. The foregoing statement of facts is submitted to the department to explain the apparent tardiness of my movements, and the extravagant, if not unusual and unreasonable expenditures to be incurred, and altogether unavoidable in Santa Fe. Before the meeting of the ensuing Congress I hope to be able to communicate to the department information more precise and in detail on this subject. While en route, and during the few days I have been in camp here, I have omitted no opportunity that has offered to procure such information as might enable me to execute discreetly the important trusts confided to me by the President of the United States. The obstacles to be overcome in adjusting our Indian relations in New Mexico and its borders, are of a much more formidable character than has been anticipated. At and near the Arkansas crossing we found seve ral thousand Indians of various tribes assembled, awaiting the return of Mr. Fitzpatrick from Washington. Their expectations in relation to presents to be received by them, on the return of Mr. Fitzpatrick, were so extravagant as to cause emigrants and others to have fearful apprehensions on account of those who were expected to be on the plains after the 15th of July, the day named by the Indians for the return of Mr. Fitzpatrick. Being ignorant of Mr. Fitzpatrick's authority to enter into stipulations with these Indians, and his means to quiet their expectations, I did. not feel at liberty to communicate with them in any official capacity. The Arapahoes, Cheyennes, Kioways, Comanches, and Utahs were the principal tribes in lodges at the Arkansas crossing. It will be readily perceived, if it were practicable at this time to visit the tribes in this Territory and in its borders, the influence which a government agent should exercise over beings guided chiefly by animal instincts would be completely ineffective, were I to attempt it without definite information in relation to what Mr. Fitzpatrick may have accomplished. Without visiting them, the information, precise and definite, which I am instructed to lay before the department, cannot be accurately gathered. Yet the nearest possible and reliable approximation shall be transmitted at an early day. The Pueblo Indians, it is believed, are entitled to the early and especial consideration of the government of the United States. They are the only tribe in perfect amity with the government, and are an industrious, agricultural, and pastoral people, living principally in villages, ranging north and west of Taos south, on both sides of the Rio Grande, more than 250 miles. By a Mexican statute these people, as I am informed by Judge Houghton, of Santa Fe, to whom I am greatly indebted for much valuable information, were constituted citizens of the republic of Mexico, granting to all of mature age, who could read and write, the privilege of voting. But this statute has had no practical operation. Since the occupancy of the Territory by the government of the United States, the Territorial legislature of 1847 passed the following act, which is now in force: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Territory of New Mexico: "SECTION 1, That the inhabitants within the Territory of New Mexico known by the name of Pueblo Indians, and living in towns or villages, built on lands granted to such Indians by the laws of Spain or Mexico, and conceding to such inhabitants certain land and privileges, to be used for the common benefit, are severally hereby created and constituted bodies politic and corporate, and shall be known in law by the name of the 'Pueblo,' &c., (naming it,) and by that name they and their successors shall have perpetual succession, sue and be sued," &c., &c. These Indians are anxious to have schools established amongst them and to receive agricultural information, which if granted on a liberal scale, could not fail to produce marked and beneficial results, not only upon them, but upon the tribes of the Territory. So soon as it may be attempted with propriety, it is my intention to visit the principal villages of this tribe, that I may from personal observation ascertain their true state and condition, and from them glean such information as they may be able to afford in relation to other tribes. At present, it is the opinion of Colonel Washington, the military commander of this division, that any attempt to conciliate the tribes who have caused the recent and present troubles in this Territory, would have a very injurious tendency. The Indians, presuming upon their knowledge of safe retreats in the mountains, and our entire ignorance of all avenues, except established military roads and well-known trails, are not to be subjected to just restraints until they are properly chasWhen they shall feel themselves so chastised, they will sue for peace, and it is respectfully suggested that the government of the United States ought to be prepared to meet them without delay. It may not be amiss to invite, for a moment, the attention of the department to, perhaps, the very gravest subject connected with our Indian affairs in this Territory. There are wandering tribes, who have never cultivated the soil, and have supported themselves alone by depredations. This is the only labor known to them. The thought of annihilating these Indians cannot be entertained by an American public-nor can the Indians abandon their predatory incursions, and live and learn to support themselves by the sweat of their own brows, unsustained by a liberal philanthropy. This subject, I humbly conceive, should engage the earnest and early consideration of the Congress of the United States, for it is respectfully submitted, that no earthly power can prevent robberies and murders, unless the hungry wants of these people are provided for, both physically and mentally. I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, Colonel MEDILL, Commissioner, Sc. JAMES S. CALHOUN, Indian Agent. SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, SIR: I had hoped by the mail of to-day to have transmitted to you some agreeable intelligence. The Utah Indians promised to come in for the purpose of suing for peace; they have disappointed us. On to-morrow we leave for the Navajo territory, intending to return by way of the Utah country. The Indians, generally, are in bad temper. The number of troops are not sufficient here to keep upon them a proper check; and infantry are useful only to protect posts, stations, and property. Mounted troops are the only military arm of this country that can be effectively used against the Indian tribes of this remote region. Colonel Washington goes in person in command of the expedition. Colonel W. MEDILL, Commissioner, &c., &c. JAMES S. CALHOUN, Indian Agent, Santa Fe. SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, SIR: With this note I transmit to you a copy of a treaty, the character of which will be elucidated by a reference to it. With Governor Washington and others I returned to Santa Fe on the afternoon of the 23d instant. During the expedition against the Navajoes my health was all that I could desire; but I am seriously threatened this morning, resulting, as I suppose, from occupying a room where the air is more confined than I have been accustomed to of late. I trust, however, my recuperative energies will come to the rescue in time to enable me to make you a more elaborate report before our mail is ordered to the United States. I have no communication from the Department of the Interior of a later date than the 14th of May last. Is it possible that no plan can be adopted to remedy the want of mail facilities of which we now complain? I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, W. MEDILL, Esq., JAMES S. CALHOUN, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington city P. S. The great cañon, which we have spelt "cheille" in the treaty, is pronounced "chey." I am not at all satisfied as to the correct spelling, nor have I yet met with any one who could enlighten me in reference thereto. SIR: You were advised by my note of the 15th of August last, that on the ensuing day we were to leave on an expedition against the Navajoes, with the intention of returning through the Utah country. Governor Washington was so obliging as to extend to me an invitation to accompany him, which was readily accepted. Our rendezvous was Jemez, an Indian pueblo, fifty-seven miles from Santa Fe, as indicated by Major Kendrick's viameter, and in a direction nearly due west. 100 We marched from Jemez on the 22d of August for the cañon of Cheille, |