The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume I

82

TEXAS $TATE !JIDRARY

be compelled to abandon, ancl he wished to see their labor bestowed upon the improving of their permanent home. The present Agent was opposed to his ceeding the Lands, because of his political hatred to Georgia. Difficulties ensued between them-the old distinction among the Indians was revived. Those who had fought under )fo. Intosh during the War still adhered to liim, 1md those known as red- i;ticks or Hostiles became attached to·the interest and views of the Agent. The horrible Catastrophe that terminated their difficulties is familiar to the American people. It ,vas our brothers that fell victims to a most sanguinary vengeance-They perished in the very cause which we are now engaged in, and if it be onr doom too to go as our lcinsmen went, we would plead with the last breath of life for the removal of him who stands in tlle way of the best interest of our deluaed people-Bear with us brother. It is we who are the injured party. Our dearest 1·elations have heen sacrifised and their char- acters blackened; yet we come not in the habiliments of war; but with the ensign of peace, we approach our unfriendly brethren, and with open arms envite to our bosoms, those who have agrieved us most. ·we do this because of our attachment to our Nation and from an anxiety to witness once more our distracted people, united & happy. And under such circumstances shall our voice have no weight with our Father the President in the appointment of an Agent tc, conduct Emigration to the West7 We are co-operating with him in a benifieient policy which alone can save the remnant of our Tribe from ruin and extinction, and all that we ask is the appointment of some good man as Agent who will enter hea.rt & hand into the ac- complishment of our laudable design; one who knows nothin~ of our fueds; who has no resentments to ~atify against either of th•! two parties in the nation, hut who can obtain the confidence of both. Shall we be told that this desire is lmreasonable and is not to be gratified f Brother. We will trouble you but a little while longer-be not offended. Our great concern is to effect a reconciliation with our brethren before they remove to the "\Vest. If they go there with all their unkind feelings about them-if their animosities he not extin- ;:uished--if the fiie<ls ,vhich have divided us here, be cherished thel'e, then will their emigration be a curse, rather than a blessing to our poplc. Enemies cannot dwell in harmony togetlier.....:...war must en- sue-blood will he shed. Hence our great anxiety to bury the Tomn- 1,awk here and smoke the Calumet of peace. And. now we would pm the question to our Father tl1e President with earnestness & solemn- ity, Is the present Agent a suitnble person to bring ahout this dc- sidable nnd all important reconciliation t Will the hystory of the past justify the belief, that he has the disposition to allay the nngry paSRions hC'twen the two partics1 An<l even if he hn<l the disposi- tion, he has not the nC'CC'Ssnry inflnencC' over the afl'ections of the Jn. diam;, to accomplish it. Ncithcl' party have any confidence in him- His powC'r is clrC'ndecl h_v man.,·, hut his promises arc believed by very few. He has spoken so often with a forkC'd tongue, thnt he is not hclicvctl even ·when he clC"livcrs the Tnlk of the P1·csidcnt. Sneh n person is rmrcly not suitable to conduc~ the Emigration, and whilst

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