TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1825-1843
73
No. 40 PROCLAMATION FROM MIRABEAU B. LAMAR TO THE CITIZENS OF L~BERTY COUNTY [July 9, 1839] To the Citizens of Liberty County residing near the Coushatta Towns and Villages. Fellow Citizens, I have heard, with feelings of deep regret, of disturbances and conflicts which have recently taken place between some of the citizens of Liberty County and the Coushatta Indians resid- ing in their vicinity. I regret it, because such disturbances are calculated to involve the country in an Indian War, which at this time should be avoided, if it can be done without compromitting the rights of our Citizens, or sacrificing our National dignity. The Coushatta Indians are in themselves a weak and defenseless tribe and as such not to be dreaded, but if they are treated with injustice on account of their weakness, will they not fly for pro- tection to more powerful tribes, and will it not afford those tribes a pretext for hostility and aggression which they have already too anxiously sought? It is the settled policy and de- termination of the Government to remove beyond our territorial limits every Indian tribe that has no rightful claim to reside in Texas, and such is the state of our present Indian relations, that there exists a strong hope of our being able to do this without delay, or blood shed, provided they are not exasperated to hos- tilities by indiscreet acts on the part of our own citizens. When the emigrant tribes shall have been removed, the few which claim the right to remain will not have the means of giving us annoyance, and should they attempt it there will be no difficulty in punishing them as they deserve, but it will be impossible to carry out the policy which has been adopted for the attainment of this most desirable end, if our own people, regardless of the dictates of prudence, shall upon every slight aggression make war upon such of the scattering tribes as shall be within their reach at the moment of excitement. I am well aware that there are vicious Indians in every tribe, and I have no doubt that you sometimes experience annoyances from such belonging to the Coushatta, but is it right, or in ac- cordance with the liberal ideas of justice entertained by the
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