496
TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
No. 1135
1839 Mar. 19, J. S. MAY:B'IELD TO l\L B. LAMAR, [HOUSTON},
Nacogdoches
19th. March 1839
To His Excellency
Mirabeau B. Lamar
President Texas · Dr. S'ir
At the request of several mutual friends I address you upon the subject of our indian relations in this quarter. I am informed Mr Martin Lacy and Col. Bean have in thei last few days transmitted to you the details of a talk held with the chiefs of several tribes some days since. . You no doubt recollect in the expressions of opinion that I have· given upon this subject that I concurred wih you, in the line of policy to be pursued towards the indians-- and more especially those who have during the last fall and winter participated in hostilities against the country. The opinion was well 'founded at one time, that nothing short of a severe chastisement of those tribes would give quiet to the, country- Upon a review however of the whole, I am clearly of opinion that, that chastisement, is at this time seriously felt by them, in the disappoint- ments they have met with in the hardships and privations they have experienced in the warfare of the last winter, and in the destitution and want of amrm] unition and provisions they have encountered, in consequence of waging war, unaided, and alone, contrary to their expectations, as promised them by the M [e] xican allies. Th[ey] now plainly see they have been deceived by Cardova and that Mexico has thrown upon the whole burthens of the war, more- over, distracted and divided amongst themselves, peace upon any terms is the only alternative left them. I do not make any sugges- tions with the view of changing your po,licy upon the subject of our· indian relations generally. I concur with them, and: will at all times so far as my influence extends heartily co-operate with you. But let me assure you, that without compromitting that policy in the least, from a close observation of the whole matter, I am clearly of the opinion a negociation upon the most favourable terms, securing to the country friends in these tribes may be had. I will not hazard a suggestion as to the terms, but whatever may be concluded on, will I am satisfied be observed in good faith by those indians, because it is and they so [v] iew and admit it now be their policy to culitivate with us the most friendly relations. If their over- tures are heedlessly rejected, they of course as the only alternative left, fly again at once to arms, and bring again upon this frontier all the evils and: confusion of border warfare. Those who are more conversant with the character oi:f those indians than myself, concur in the opinions I have here stated; l\ir Martin Lacy relying upon their fri [e] ndly disposition, is in town at this time to procure cortton seed to plant, fifty or sixty acres of cotton; and so with our whole section of the country- Quiet then is the great
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