360 dians stole a number of horses in that Valley the night after Scotts party left & that a fresh party of men took their trail next day- Many families are leaving the frontier- many others would go if able to do so- The settlements are gradually thinning & becoming weaker & weaker,-and unless something can be done to arrest these predatory incursions the frontier must finally & at no very distant day be broken up, except some of the larger towns- We have nothing to hope from the U.S. Govt. troops- There is nothing but infantry on this part of the frontier & they are worthless- Our hope rests upon the action of the Executive of our State & although we are well aware that the scanty fund appropriated by the Legislature to protect the frontier has long since been exhausted, yet the power to call an ample sufficiency of troops, is fully vested in the Executive by the 6th Section of the law & the Legislature will undoubtedly appropriate the funds necessary to pay off such as called into service-- In view of this the people on this part of the frontier earstly desire you to com- mission the officers of the company recently organized & author- ize them to continue in the field for our protection- They are perfectly willing to perform the service & trust to the Legislature to compensate them-The officers of the company are sober, steady, reliable men-and I think the company one well calcu- lated to do good service & are all residents of frontier accustomed to its hardships & privations-They are mounted on horses best calculated to perform the kind of service before them & are gen- erally well armed- The officers have given bond to draw arms from the State if any can be had to complete the equipment- ! would not trouble you with so long a letter on my own a,::- count, but a large number of families covering an extensive dis- trict of country are interested in this matter- The warlike char- acter of the recent foray may be but a prelude to more serious & savage incursions-The people are not able to attend to their domestic affairs and protect themselves ; they are not able to fit out & pay & keep in service a body of troops to guard their homes, & property. It must be done by the Government or they will be compelled to give up the country to the savages.- Hoping you will pardon so long a letter & give to its contents that consideration which is due to the important subject I am respectfully WILLIAM E. JONES His Excy. H. R. Runnels Govr &C
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