62
TEXAS lNOfAN PAPERS,. 1825-1843
You assume to be acting under a treaty negotiated at your village, on the twentieth day of February, 1836, with commis- sioners appointed by the Provisional Government. No doubt there are those who would lead you to believe, that by virtue of that Treaty, you have a right to maintain, within the limits of this Republic, an independent Government, bearing no re- sponsibility to us, as though we were a Foreign Nation. Be not deceived by this. For you may rest assured, that such counsels are falacious and deceitful; and if you and your People shall be so unfortunate as to be guided by them, you will be lead into inextricable difficulties and final destruction. The people of Texas have acquired the'ir sovereignty by many rightful and glorious achievements, and they will exercise it without division or community with any other People. They can recognize no alien political power within their borders; and you and your tribe, having no legitimate rights of soil or sovereignty in this country, can never be permitted to exercise a conflicting author- ity. The Treaty alluded to, was a nullity when made-is inop- erative now ;-has never been sanctioned by this Government, and never will be. -It is, therefore, vain for you to build any hopes upon it. Such hopes will only terminate in disappoint- ment and despair. Even if this Government were for a moment to admit that Treaty to possess and sanctify or to convey any obligation on the part of Texas your people have defiled it by robbery and murder and ha,·e forfeited all claims which might accrue under it, by leaguing with other Indians and Mexicans, against our peace and safety. You and your people have held re,eated correspondence with our enemies; have received and cherished their emissaries among you; and have entered into belligerent compacts with them; and have given counten·ance to an insurrection raised in your own vicinity by Mexicans who have been ·incorporated into our national family, and were en- joying all the benefits and privleges of citzenship. These things you know, and you know, too, that they are destructive of every obligation which the treaty can be supposed to impart. In view of this discrepancy between your declarations and your conduct, how can this Government regard you in any other light than as a secret enemy or suspicious friend. Professing friendship yet in constant collusion with our foes, you cry peace, peace, when every action betrays a secret disposition to hostility.
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