1588
AMERlCAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
justice have never been closed against them nnd the attempt at revo- lution which has been made at Nacogcloches it is considered and hoped has been the result of momentary and imprudent excitement arising from misconceptions on the part of the persons concerned- The Cherokees nre also included in the liberal offers of the Chief of Department and an invitation has been given to them to come to this place or to the Trinity and hold a conference on the Subject of their affairs the object of which is to restore harmony and pave the way £or a final adjustment of all their unfinished business relative to lands which has been heretofore retarded by the multiplicity of affairs which occupied the attention of the Government-- No doubt can now remain on the part of the persons engaged in this affair as to the just and pure intentions of the Govt and it is con- fidently believed that they will without hesitation return to their duty and present themselves to the Govt in the legal and proper manner and all these difficulties will terminate hapily- But should this unfortunately not be the case and they Should still persist in their efforts to kindle an Indian war on our frontiers it will be an unequivocal proof that the Liberty and justice they pretend has been denied them and in defence of which they pretend to have taken up arms is not the real object, and that Some other Schemes influence them which have not yet been fully developed- \V1rntever they may be, nothing but ruin to Texas ancl its inhabitants can be the result of the~r Success, and for this reason it is a duty which every good man owes to himself, to his family and to his country to prepare himself in time and hold himself in readiness to take up arms and march under the banners of their adopted country against them, should they still persist in their mad Schemes of Independence- With this view of the subject, and in complyance with my duty to you as your Empresario and Chief officer of the Colony charged with its Government and defence, and in obediance to the orders of the Chief of Department and military commandant to have 100 Militia men in readiness. I have issued orders to the respective commandants of Companies to hold the number of men in readiness assigned as their quota to re[ndevo]us at the places and on the days designated ... mounted armed and equiped and provided [with] . . . clays provisions- The militia who are called out in . . . the National Service are entitled by [law] to the pay allowed to troops in the regular [ser]vice a[nd] their pay will commence from the [clay] they [are] regularly mustered into Service at the points designated for rendevous. Relying on your patriotism and on your firmness in defence of your property, your families, your honor, and your country, I have
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