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TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1860-1916
ther yes or no. That they were reduced to want and dare not Manifest publicly to the Mexicans what they wished to do, till the moment they are ready to act, for the instant the indians give the Mexicans to understand that the flag of the U. S. is their flag, and that they are going to place themselves under its protecting folds, that instant the indians believe-the Mexicans will withdraw thir favors, become a foe to them and bad Mex• icans strip them of every thing they have left; As the old man said, so I found it in the Conference. I could never get them to the point--they occupied the time in some un- explainable [ ?] mysterys, or questions about the country & the indians at home; They name would not say yes or no to the proposition to go back-but gave a stupid grunt. one of them a leader-noble & daring with great hatred to Texans-- but friends to the U. S.-deigned this eloquent but consise re- ply to the question-will you go back to your own lands-or stay here & become Mexicans,? He said, "My heart is touched, but as for myself, god is my Captain-the world my Camping ground, and I am at liberty to go where I choose-so that I tresspass not upon others." Upon the delivery of which, see- ing that there would be no escape, that the question was to be put right home to him for a definite answer-he suddenly broke up the conference, proving the truth of the old indian warning. In my intercourse with the Mexican authorities from the Gov. down, and with the people generally of the Mexican fron- tier, I became thoroughly convinced, that it was their deter- mination, even at the hazard of war, to retain these people among them, and to attempt to incorporate them into the body of Mexican population. The Mexicans suppose they have among all these tribal peo- ples formerly pertaining to the U. S. from four to five hundred setiable [suitable] Warrior soldiers bearing implacable hatred towards Texans, which the Mexicans loose no opportunity to encourage and render more bitter. The generality of the people feel that there tribes &c are an important accession to the country for the trade and traflick they bring, and as protection against the Wild indians: they also hold them, as a sort of whip, over the Texas frontier; While bad men, regard them ·as a most convenient di·arJ 11et, to make raids with from 1'exas to suit their convenience. Gov. Cepada, as I understand, proposes to break up the tri-
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