TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1844-1845
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all our usual friendly attentions. Should he be so fortunate as to bring in and deliver to you, the whole or greater part of the horses you will be authorised by the understanding at the Coun- cil to give him powder and lead, the same as the other friendly chiefs had, but circumstances have charged suspicious acts on some of his young men that they are implicated in some of the late disastrous occurrences, he therefore ought not to expect a fulfillment of that promise at this time. Therefore you will give him merely enough to kill meat for his women and children for a short time. He must be patient until the matter is inves- tigated or some new lights are thrown on the subject. He must not think that the confidence the Government has in him is in the least impaired. The Great Chief's esteem for him and con- fidence in his good faith is as great and the same as ever, but we all know that he has bad men in his tribe, who never came to the "talk," and whom he can not control. They, the bad men, will be punished. Repeat to him that Sam Houston's love for him is the same as ever, and this is merely a precautionary step of mine until instructions shall be received from his Excellency on the subject. Should any of the Comanche chiefs or head men come in with Jim Shaw, expected soon to return from their nation, or should any come in from the Caddo Villages, where some will probably be during the present roasting ear season, you will conduct the chiefs to this place, with as few of their attendants as possible, to avoid unnecessary expense or send some prudent and discreet citizen with them. You can, if you please, visit our friend Jose Maria the Joni Chief's village and apprize him of the occurrences on the fron- tier. He may, when made acquainted with all the facts, aid in the discovery of the perpetrations of the late outrages. Write me by every mail-dispatch by express should any thing important occur. Yr friend and mo. obt. st. (Signed) THOMAS G. WESTERN Supt. Indian Affairs
[Endorsed] (Copy) Letter to Benj Sloat Washington June 25th/44
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