PAPERS OF JI.IIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
301
By reference to the Abstract of Original titles, 14 it will be seen that deeds were granted in Jan. 1835 to actual settlers at and below the Great Saline on the East side of the Neches river by Geo. Antoo. Nixon, J\fexican Commissioner: To wit one deed to a JI.Ir. Walker-to a Mr Debard--.Tohn Jordan-Levi Jordan-Capt. Timmons-Mrs. Lewis- Joseph Ferguson-David Page & all with improved farms-and just above the Cherokees-no objections were made at the time. l\fr. Henry Rouag, 15 Political Chief of the Nacogdoches District or- dered, at the time, that no survey should be made within two miles of any indian improvement, which order I bdieve, was well obeyed by the surveyors. Now, does it seem any way likely, that, if these lands were gTanted to the indians in 1822, no reservation in their favour would have been made in 1826 when the Hon. David G Burnet obtained an Empresario- ship to colonise this same tract with Christian farnilies? And-'-again, if the indians had a good right to these lands, how did the Political Chief discharge his duty in petmitting these families to obtain their Head-rights there ? Will the Congress in the plenitude of Wisdom undertake to eschea[t] these titles, and sell the lands and farms to, pay off the Public debt?- As well may they, in my opinion, take the estate of the late Josiah Bell of Colombia and appropriate it to the same purpose! If the Bill pass and the measures contemplated be carded into effect, I humbly conceive that it will be inpalpahle Viola- tion of the Constitution. Please enquire of Genl. Rusk and Col. Burton and they will tell you much from certain knowledge. They were there in 1835 and know all about the settlers above named. If the Mexican Government ever gave the Cherokees assurances of public Domain, why were these lands not titled and specifically defined? If the Indians omitted to have their claims perfected, i's that any thing to this Govt. Let l\fexico fulfill her own promises. I am willing to concede justice to all men; and even to Governments- Then the most the Govt. can claim is the Actual INDIAN Improve- ments: Not Christians' Improvements, and Deed lands. Your Excellency will please pardon the liberty which I have taken in addressing this short letter of facts, as I understand there is yet no con- nected plot of the surveys in that region-on the Neches- Accept assurances of the profound respect, with which, I am, Your Excellency's l\Iost Obedient, & l\fost humble Servant,
William Brookfield [rubric]
[Endorsed] W. Brookfield
[ Addressed] His Excellency
l\Iirabeau B. Lamar, President of the Republic of Texas Austin 1
Jan. 6. '40
"The printed Abstract of Valid Land Ola-ims (1859), by J. Burlage and J. B. Hollingsworth, lists these grants under "Mexican and Spanish Titles," pp. 617, 621, 634, 647, 663, an'd 666. uRueg.
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