THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 1539 had you not proceeded in the violent manner you have they would have investigated the conduct of Norris and if he deserved it, punished him- you are all mistaken in one particular, you think the Govt have not force-you are deluding yourselves and this delusion will ruin you-you also think that this colony will unite in such mad schemes-- I have a better opportunity of knowing the force of the Govt than you have, and I assure you that were it necessary they could march five thousand troops to that district in two months and you would find that every man in this colony able to bear arms would freely and cheerfully join them-Some of those people have been so far deluded as to believe that the Govt of the United States would aid them, such an idea is too absurd for any reasonable man to think of so far from aiding them that Govt would if called on send troops to aid this Govt in establishing 'peace and good order on the frontier of the two nations and to expel from there all persons who might be disturbing it-It is said that some of the party talk of calling in the Indians from the Sabine to Rio Grande. Great God, can it be possible that Americans, high minded free born and honorable Americans will so far forget the country of their birth, so far forget themselves, as to league with barbarians and join a band of savages in a war of murder, massacre and desolation 1 pause, my friend be- fore you enter into so horrid a conspiracy-let not the rising genera- tion reproach your children that their father was engaged in the wanton murder of innocent families, the massacre of defenceless women and helpless children it has been reported here that the Cherokees have enlisted in this business. I do not believe it and have contradicted the report.. there is too much honor, too much civilization too much virtue in the cherokees to engage in any such infamous and horrid business- The affair with Norris was a mad business and totally wrong for the law points out the mode of punishing officers o-f all ranks from the President down and no individuals have or ought to have the power of taking into their hands the authority vested by law in the competant tribunals, for this principle strikes at the root of all Govt and opens the door for anarchy and a Govt of mobs instead of a Govt of laws-but that affair might have been arranged and could still be all arranged provided you will be guided by reason and act with prudence-and if you will follow my advice all will turn out right in the end, but you must follow it strictly if you wish for my friend- ship in the business-- In the first place disband your voluntier company and convince them so far as possible that you have all taken wrong steps-call a meeting of all the honest and honorable men in your neighborhood
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