THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 845 to be at peace with the Americans and would punish the murderers of ·Tumlinson-I informed the Americans of these words and they · all said that the 1Vecos had always been their friends and that they did not wish for war with them, but that the murderers of Tumlinson must be punished and then they would be satisfied. I have therefore sent up some young men to talk with you and to deliver you these words from the Americans- • The Americans will be at peace with the "\Vecos and Tawakanes and trade with them as friends and brothers provided the chiefs of that nation will agree to punish the murderers of Tumlinson. The path between us shall then be clean and both parties can travel in safety. The "\i\Tecos and Tawakanes must not disturb the settlers on the Brazos or Colorado and if any of those settlers misuse any of your nation I will punish them for it if the chief will inform me and if any of your nation steal from or misuse any of the Americans the chief must deliver them to the Americans to be killed or whipped according to the crime-they have committed-in this way we may keep ~ peace between us as long as the sun shall shine, All bad men will then be punished and all the good ones can live in their houses and villages with their women and children and plant their corn in peace and safety. My friends the Americans are a great people they are like the leaves on the trees-they are all good warrior~and well armed-they are .true friends and dangerous enemies they never beg peace of any nation, they are always ready for war or peace, Lut they pre:fer peace for they wish to be friends and brothers with all the Indians of this province, the Wecos a.nd Tawakanes can therefore chose and send me word by the young men what they in- tend, and whether they are willing to punish the murders of Tumlin- son and be at peace with the Americans or whether they wish for war- , [Endorsed :] Talk sent to the "\-Veco Indians by Duke and Selkirk
JOHN p. COLES TO AUSTIN
July 7 th 1824
DEAR Srn . From the friendship I feel for you I venture to submit the follow- ing ideas for your reflection relative to the situation of this colony and you as the founder etc.-you [know~] that the governor of this Province has by his tory arrangements violated the contract made between you and the People 1 I can not conceive that the Governor of the Province has any thing to doo with the arrangement made by
1 See Snucedo's tarUr, May 20, and Austin's address to colonists. June G, 182G.
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