1210
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOC'IATION.
Should the Government give us discretionary Power eather for ,var or Peace- 1st Is it most expedient to declare war at once, or to attempt a treaty of peace? 2 nd If the latter what is the best course to obtain it, will it be best for me to go in person to their Towns, and conclude a treaty or send a deputation for that object, or to invite the Chiefs to meet us, at the San Antonio Road- 3 rd ~f I go or send to their Towns, how many men should compose the party: how soon ought it to Start? will it be best to send a messenger a head and notify them of our approach and object, and request them to send for the absent Chiefs. 4 th Will it be best to demand the stolen horses, and make the resti- tution of them and the punishment of Tomlinsons l\iurderers, a condition of peace or War? or will it be best to say nothing about them and leave it for a future.demand when we are in a better situ- ation to enforce it 1- 5 th Or will it be best to complain of those depredations but with- out making a positive demand of restitution, because a positive de- mand if made and refused is of course a declaration of war, for if it is made it must be enforced- 6 th Or will it be best to be governed by circumstances and the appearence of things after we see the Chiefs, and eather make the demand or not as those circumstances may require? 7 I wish the people of each Militia district to elect one person to accompany me if I go to treat with the Indians, for the purpose of forming a council or direct representation of the Colony, this person will be elected by each company when these propositions are sub- mitted to them.- The foregoing except the last article I believe embraces the most material points that have been talked of amongst the settlers, the last one is a proposition of my own,- This is an important sub- ject in our present situation and I wish the free voice of the Colony to decide what is the best source to be adopted-and with such a council as the one I propose I shall feel more Confidence- .Without wishing or intending to give my opinion as to the points submitted, it may be proper and nessisary for me to make some re- flections as to our present situation and future prospects-- The Government have authorized a new Colony of 800 families on the Brazos and Colorado Rivers above the San Antonio road from Tennessee and Kentucky, and I have every reason to believe that by next-April that Colony will be at least 200 strong. Will a_ war_ at this time with the upper Indians have a tendency to stop emigration to that Colony altogether? or to check it materially? also the
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