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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
such circumstances a military post was ordered to be established at the Saline with no intention of interrupting your people in their enjoyment of their possessions or any of their rights, but for the purpose of guarding more effectually against the incursions of the hostile tribes and to prevent their making your settlement the Head Quarters for conspiracy, and a place of refuge in danger. A measure iso essential to our safety, and in nowise involving, yours, could not reasonably be objected to by you, if your designs were as pacific as your professions. But the f.act that you are unwilling for l\Iajor "\Vaters to occupy a point which you know to be all important to the protection of a large portion of our exposed population, as well as the threatening and dictatorial language with which you have thought proper to order him off makes it more necessary that he should not abandon it. I have accordingly ordered him back to the Saline and, in doing this, it becomes proper that the relations which are to subsist between the cherokees and this Government, should be distinctly understood. Permit me then, as one who never deceived the redman, to advise the Cherokees to abandon all idea of war, to remain at home in peace, cultivate their farms, renounce all connection with our enemies and shew by their conduct as well as by their words, that they are sincere in their professions of friendship. Let them do this; and await the next meeting of onr Congress, and the President will take pleasure in recommending to that honorable body to take their peculiar situation into consideration and to adopt towards them a policy, which shall be so liberal in iti:; character as to satisfy every reasonable mind, and lead to a permanent friendship between the two parties. The President will do this because he is the friend of peace, justice and humanity; and if the Cherokees will act right on their part, he has no hesitancy in saying that the Congress will do for them whatever duty and honor shall require. Certainly this is a far better course to pursue than the opposite one, of contending for what this Government will neve-r concede, and, which you never can obtain by force; or if obtained would only tend to increase your difficulty. For if we were to give you all you ask, if this Government were to acknowledge you as free, sovereign and independent power to the fullest extent, your con- dition would not be the least improved by it. You could not live in peace with our people; you would be subject to perpetual and unavoidable .annoyances, and you would have finally to sell out your lands and leave the Country. surrounded as you soon would be by a strong population, and daily harrassed by bad men, ever ready to take advantage of your ignorance and weakness, what security would you have for any of your rights; and what redress of wrong 1 There would be none, except the honor of this Govern- ment. You would be powerless to help yourselves and would have to rely upon the magnanimity of Congress. Then, why not rely on it now 1 Why not do it before calamities ensue Y Would it not be wise in you to say to the Government of Texas, the red man and the white man cannot dwell together Y let us seperate, not in wrath, but in friendship; and, on those sacred principles of generosity and
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