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TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1825-1843
your attention to my communication of last May, in which I had the honour of laying before the Department of State, a full and concise statement of all the facts therewith connected, and will only add that the matter is still undergoing judicial investiga- tion by the constituted authorities of the District, and in connec- tion with this matter, it may perhaps be proper to refer you to tr.at letter, for a report upon nearly all the charges contained in Mr. Pitchlynns' communication. My attention has been more particularly confined to the subject of the Ferries established upon the upper part of Red River by Texian citizens, and the complaints which are predicated thereupon. After the most dili- gent and persevering enquiries the following is the result of my investigations. It appears, that there are but three ferries upon the river, which have been, or now are established, or controlled by citizens of this Republic. One of the Ferries owned, and worked by Travis G. Wright, Esqr. having been demanded by the Indians, as belonging to themselves, was surrendered to them without hesitation or deiay, and without a denial of their right and claim to the same, as will appear from the statement of Mr. Wright, which is hereunto annexed. Of the other two ferries, no claim has as yet been set up to them, nor as far as my information extends, has any demand been made for them; and I am induced to believe, that when such claim or demand is made, by the proper authorities, that the sense of justice which an·imates the citizens residing upon Red River, will induce them to recognize a right which they have never yet denied. As a µart of my duties, I also made enquiries relative to the refusal of Texians, proprietors of the abovementioned ferries, to convey and transport Indians to and fro in their Boats; and in no in.;. st~nce whatever, have I been able to learn, that such refusals have been made, but on the contrary, that every facility has been always given to the Indians in the transportation of their per- sons and their property, and every kindness extended to them, while their conduct and behaviour deserved it. The undersigned is happy in being able to state, that as far as he has had an oppor- tunity of learning, the most friendly disposition prevails amongst the inhabitants adjacent to the Indian Territory, to- wards the Indians. That there are and will be lawless persons in every community, is matter of deep regret: however watch- ful the administrators, and ministers of the Laws may be. all countries are subject to this evil, while the acts and atrocities of such persons, redound more or less to the injury and reproach
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