Rocky Mountain News editorial regarding Colorado Territorial Governor John Evans’ appeal to the people upon the subject of Indian defense.

Rocky Mountain News, August 10, 1864

TO FIGHT INDIANS

His Excellency, Governor Evans, publishes in this paper an appeal to the people upon the subject of Indian defence (sic). Except at the moment of alarm, a most remarkable state of apathy has thus far prevailed among our people. They seem oblivious to the danger. The time is coming, and we believe it is near at hand, when a different policy will have to be adopted or else our outside settlements, at least, are doomed to extermination, and all our intercourse with the States will be cut off. The Indian uprising is general. It extends from New Mexico to British America from Missouri and Iowa to California and Oregon. There is no assurance that troops will be sent here in numbers adequate for our protection. Gen. Curtis says: “You must defend yourselves,” and in Kansas they have the same assurance so far as the Indian war is concerned. In that State the militia is organizing to beat back the savages from their frontier settlements.

In this emergency the Governor calls for the organization of military companies. When organized, he will supply arms. They will be entitled to all the horses and other property they may capture, and in addition, he promises to use his influence to procure their payment by the general Government. There is but little doubt that it can be effected. The first companies in the field will have the best opportunity to serve their country, and the best chance for large pay.

Eastern humanitarians who believe in the superiority of the Indian race will raise a terrible howl over this policy, but it is no time to split hairs nor stand upon delicate compunctions of conscience. Self preservation demands decisive action, and the only way to secure it is to fight them in their own way. A few months of active extermination against the red devils will bring quiet, and nothing else will.

It has been charged, first by interested parties and then by others who believed it, that the Governor refused to allow independent companies to pursue and fight the Indians, and that he would arrest and punish those who attempted to do so. The assertion is an unfounded lie. He never has said nor intimated any thing of the kind. It is necessary, however, to procure arms, and in order to receive pay from Government hereafter, that all companies should be organized and regularly officered.

As an illustration of the calumnies that have been industriously circulated, we give the following report of a dialogue that occurred yesterday between the Governor and a very intelligent gentleman from the mountains. The family of the latter is en route from the States to this place, and at present supposed to be below Fort Kearney. He called upon the Governor to say that he desired to go out and meet them with a party sufficiently strong to defend themselves against the Indians. The Governor told him that he had no disposition to prevent his doing so, and the following conversation ensued:

Mr. A. – But I hear it said that you forbid persons fighting hostile Indians, and threaten to arrest all who attempt to do so.

Gov. – That assertion is utterly and maliciously false. I have never said, nor intimated any such thing. On the contrary, I would be but too glad to see every hostile Indian killed.

Mr. A. – Can I procure a commission for myself, and permission to go out with my party for the purpose.

Gov. – If your party numbers thirty or more, and will organize under the militia law - the only authority under which I can act – commissions will be issued to its officers, and I will furnish arms and ammunition, with orders to attack, disperse and kill hostile Indians wherever they can be found, and permission to keep all property captured from such Indians.

Mr. A. – Then you have been the worst be-lied man I ever saw.

Gov. – That may be so, but I have more important business than to go around refuting lies.

This is as ‘twas told to us, and it is but a sample of such discussions that may be heard every day, only the Governor is not often party to the dialogue.

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