16[,
PAPERS OF ~lrnAnEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
abroad, by inspiring confidence in the energy of our Government, and giving a new impulse to emigration. For the course pursued towards the Cherokees, there were various considerations, of the strongest nature. This was an emigrant tribe which had been proscribed by their own people, about twenty years ago; and which after a long and offensive intrusion upon the territory of Texas, was at length encouraged to assert political rights in our country; utterly inconsistent with the sovereignty of this Republic, and. the safety of the people.- They were of all the Indian tribes the most enlightened; and at the same time, our most inveterate and wily foes. Their superior intelligence enabled them in a great degree, to ·control the wild Indians of the prairies, who were daily becoming more for- midable and ferocious, under the councils and examples of this treach- -erous band. Not content with stimulating others to rapacity and murder, they seldom lost an opportunity of committing it themselves, the most horrid attrocities, whenever they thought it could be done with impunity, or successfully imputed to others. With the l\lexicans they were in constant collusion- had formed alliances 73 with them, and served as a channel of communication between them and the sav- ages on our northern borders; while their villages were the safe retreat of little predatory bands, and a general rendezvous, where the discon- tented of every tribe could gather and concert their schemes of de- vastation and death. Such being their character and conduct, it became necessary for the Government to establish a military post at a commanding position in their neighborhood, with no view however of making war upon them unless they should provoke it by their own hostilities, but for the pur- pose ' of cutting off their intercourse with our enemies, and providing generally for the safety of our eastern frontier. To this measure the Cherokees objected, and threatened resistance to its execution. This audacity, together with other considerations induced me to address to Bowles, the ring leader of the band, a frank and decisive letter, 74 to which the attention of Congress is respectfully invited, as containing the views and feelings by which the Executive was guided in the whole transaction. In that Communication, the Cherokees were distinctly informed, that their continuance in this country was regarded by the Government as incompatible with the rights and safety of our people, and their removal beyond our borders was contemplated and would certainly be effected; but that on the condition of their conducting. themselves with propriety and good faith, their departure would not be required before the meeting of Congress, when the President would cheerfully recommend such measures of assistance and relief as their peculiar situation might seem to demand. To this proposition they seemingly assented; but very shortly afterwards the unexpected dis- covery of a treasonable correspond_ence 75 between the l\lexican authori- 78See nos. 1188, 1297 and 1321. "No. 1297. "For a list of this correspondence see Garrison, G. P., Diplomatic Corre- spondence of the Republic of Texas, I, 400-401. Translated copies of nos. 1-2, 4-8 are in th'} Texas ar.chives, "Army Papers," and a translated copy of no. !J is in the Texa8 archives, "Indian' Affairs Papers."
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