Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. I

TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1825-1843

105

No. 77 LETTER FROM A. SIDNEY JOHNSTON TOW. S. FISHER

Copy

War Department

City of Austin, January 30, 1840

Lieut Col. Wm S. Fisher Com'dg 1st. Regt Infantry

Sir:----Information has been communicated to this De- partment by Col. H. W. Karnes, that on the 9th Inst. a Deputa- tion from the Comanche arrived at San Antonio, and stated that they had been empowered to solicit peace. They said the Co- manche had resolved on this, in general Council; and had also expressed a determination to release their American Captives, and restore all stolen property, if a treaty could be effected. They also said that in thirty days at the furthest, they would bring in the principal Cheifs to make all the arrangements. If they come in according to their agreement, bringing with them the Captives, and deliver them up, such voluntary release of their prisoners will be regarded as an evidence of their sin- cere desire for peace, and they will therefore be received with kindness and permitted to depart without molestation. You will state to them, that this government assumes the right, with regard to all Indian tribes residing within the limits of the Republic, to dictate the conditions of such residence; and that their own happiness depends on their good or bad conduct towards our citizens: that their remaining within such limits as may be prescribed, and an entire abstinence from acts of hostility or annoyance to the inhabitants of the frontier, are the oniy conditions for the privilege of occupancy that the govern- ment believes it is at this time necessary to impose: that the ob- servance of these conditions will secure to them the peace they profess to seek. You will further say, that, under the sanction of the Law, our citizens have a right to occupy any vacant lands of the Government, and that they must not be interfered with by the Comanche. To prevent any further difficulty between our people and thiers, they must be made clearly to understand that they are prohibit~d from entering our settlements.