388 INCIDENTS AT 
young men might do so. They said they would not 
rob or murder the Americans, but could not be brought 
to promise the same with regard to the Mexicans. 
What, then, is absolutely necessary, for the sake of 
these Indians themselves as well as of our frontier 
population, is to convince them of the overwhelming 
superiority of force on our side; and to show them 
that, if they wish to escape utter extermination, they 
must lay aside their predatory habits, and learn to 
live by the labor of their own hands. 
To effect this, a change should be made in the 
system pursued at the frontier posts. Soldiers should 
not go into quarters, and then quietly remain devoting 
themselves to agriculture. Better would it be for the 
government to pay double the price it now does for 
its wheat and corn, than to employ the soldiers in 
cultivating it; for the consequence of the present 
system is, that by their attending to the fields, they 
become unfitted for and neglect their proper duty 
as soldiers. 
I would suggest, that with the opening of the 
spring, the soldiers should leave their quarters, and be 
kept moving from one point to another. Let them be 
a few days in a mountain pass, next at some oasis in 
the desert whither the savage must resort to satisfy his 
parching thirst, and again in some of those beautiful 
valleys covered with luxuriant grass, which are also 
his resort after his predatory excursions, that he may 
recruit his animals. This active life would be much 
more agreeable and healthy for the men than the 
inactivity of a garrison, and would tend more to 
overawe and subdue the Indians. 
