TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1825-1843
213
opening of the Council Shaw, Conner, and Second-Eye, made speeches-which as interpreted to me amounted merely their desire to make peace, and the feeling of their own tribe on the subject- This I submitted to, a'3 I imagined it to be only intro- ductory of myself and the objects of my missi_on, and as I sup- posed customary- When th~y condescended however to let me speak and in the course of my remarks I alluded to the words of truth and peace you had directed me to speak to the Red men ; Shaw refused to interpret them, but hung down his head and was silent. Conner was then obliged to continue the interpre- tation of my remarks- This conduct was so marked that I could not misunderstand it, and upon making enquiries I find that he has openly declared to those with us that he was the Captain of this party, and that / was merely sent to write down what he said to the Indians and they said to him- I was to have no voice in the matter, but be subject to his directions- It is needless to assure your Excellency that under this state of af- fairs, this expedition proceeds not one step-- I intend before leaving our present encampment to read your orders and in- structions and "define my position"- He has several times intimated that he wants to go to the Canadian River and see his people to some of our party, but never to me until last evening, when he asked me how I thought it would do for him to remain at the Tawakoni Village and trade [document torn] with the Comanche. I replied that I could not entertain the idea, that you had directed him to go with us and that you would be dis- p!eased if he left us here. To this he made no reply-This morning Second-Eye told me that Shaw swore last evening that he'd be damned if he would go a long distance after the Co- manche, for $150. That if they were not pretty near us when we went over again to the Brazos he should leave- Should he do so, Connor and Second-Eye will probably follow suit- Under these circumstances, I feel that I shall have to use much discre- tion and decision- And on an emergency shall do so, confident in my ability yet to give the expedition a successful termina- tion- And I entreat your Excellency still to continue that con- fidence in me which induced you first to confer the appointment upon me- for I am determined to use every exertion to bring about as far as in me lies, a complete and lasting treaty of peace with all the Indians before the expiration of your Excellency's adminis~ration. To this purpose I have devoted my~elf and will
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