355
TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1844-1845
known their decision in the case, by the next Council after the present. The President says "the whole of this country to the best of our Knowledge, was formerly under the dominion of Mexico. We fought her and whipped her, took her great chief prisoner, and drove his troops out of the country, and have ever since been in possession of it by right of conquest, therefore, owners of all the Land in Texas; but not upon this account does he wish to deprive the Red Man of his hunting grounds. We have no present use for that section of Country best adapted to Hunting purposes, the Buffalo range; the President is there- fore of the opinion that there will be little difficulty to be appre- hended in adjusting the Boundary line to suit all parties, When- ever the Indians make Known their desires to the Govern- ment. The President loves the Red Man, as brothers, and is desirous that the Buffalo range should be preserved for their use that they may never want meat, nor their women and chil- dren suffer from hunger. The great impropriety of interfering with the line at this particular Juncture of affairs need not be pointed out to gentlemen of your intelligence and discretion. Whether we be- come annexed or remain Independent, it is equally objection- able, if the former, the state as it were would be meddling with a matter purely national, a matter with wh'ich none have a right to interfere but the Government of the US; and if the latter, it would be divesting Texas of a large and fair portion of her Territory without a fair equivalent, and without any reason therefore, which could not nor would be satisfactory to the peo- ple of Texas. The foregoing are the instructions which the Presi- dent has desired me to commun'icate to you for your guidance and observance, as Indian Commissioners to the present council, His Excellency desires me to say that he has full confidence in your intelligence prudence and discretion and feels assured that these qualifications will produce a report of your proceedings in Council of the most pacific and Satisfactory character. This occasion affords me the pleasure to subscribe re- spectfully Your most obt Svt T G WESTERN Superintendent Indian Affairs
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