TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1860-1916
123
Hon D. M. Cooley,
Comr, Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C.
Sir.-1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 11th ult with copy of your letter of Feby 15th 1866, to Secty of Interior in relation to Tonkawa Ind I would most respectfully urge upon the Department to pro- vide for these people in Texas. The prorata portion of the aP- propriation made for the Wichita Agency, that would be ex- pended for the Tonkawa will provide amply for them in Texas; pay a sub-Agent, and furnish them all they will need. The present Legislature has authorized me to have a league of land surveyed and set apart for them, as long as they will remain upon it, and also authorized me to expend $3500.00 within the next two years. as I may think best, for them etc. Texas can ill afford this, when we have so many who are suffering, of our own people. But these poor Creatures have been so faith- ful to the whites, since the first settlements in Texas, and they having suffered so much at the hands of other Indians, it would be cruel in Texas, to force them away or leave them to suffer. There is no portion of our people who will complain at the Tonkawa's being settled among them, provided they have an agent and are provided for. Knowing the feeling that exists between these Indians and the other bands at the Wichita Agency, and that all the other tribes are unfriendly to them, and the Tonkawa afraid, and distrustful of the others, I can but urge upon your Department the propriety of making provision for these people, and lea.ving them at the home I may select for them, some where in our State. If I thought it was prudent or safe for these Indians I would insist upon their removal, by force, if necessary, to the Agency. They express the greatest repugnance at the idea and beg not to be sent there. I desire that you will make these facts known to the Hon Secty of the Interior, and will be much gratified if the
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