Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. V

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160 zales, Augustin Soto, Bentura Gonzales, Alvino Travenio, Eugenio Garza, &, J. A. Wilkinson, were appointed to prepare, a Report of the late outrages of the Indians in this vicinity, and suggest proper action for this meeting.- At 10 o'clock the next day, the meeting was assembled to receive the Report of the Committee when, Don Jose. M. Gon- zales, Chairman presented the following Report. "That for the last two months the depredations of the In- dians have been incessant and disastrous. From one end of the County to the other have our Citizens been killed, and our prop- erty destroyed and stolen. That within this space of time seven of our Citizens have been murdered, among them Don Crisento Bela, one of the most respectable and wealthy of our number, and that in every instance the Indians have escaped with impu- nity, and remain unpunished. That although the garrison of Fort McIntosh, near this place, numbers 500 men, yet being Infantry, their countrymen, as well as an enlightened public opinion will not hold them accountable, as it is known that the forays of the Indians, are sudden, rapid and always mounted, whilst the Gen- eral Government prohibits every thing, which could aid their ef- ficiency by making no provisions for horses, equipments, &c. These continued aggressions are ruinous to the settlement, and prosperity of our County- After the lapse of so many years, since it had become the duty of the U. S. to keep the Indians under subjection, and under the delusive hope, that she would protect us, we have pushed, our settlements out from the Towns, have re-occupied the lands of our Fathers, so generously recog- nised, and confirmed to us by our State, and had collected our scattered flocks and herds, which an incessant war for twenty years, had made wild and valueless to us, and in all the branches of industry suited to our position, had prepared to enjoy that peace, protection, and prosperity that other more favored of our fellow citizens were enjoying, and which we so much needed.- Yet-what is the condition of our County today- Our Citi- zens were scattered for 20 miles above & below the Town, on the River, planting their crops of corn from the poor man who plants his peck of seed to the rich who plants it by the Fanager-then all when startled with the arrival of expresses sent by their friends in town, to warn them, that within five miles of Laredo, yea, even in sight of it, on the main road to the Coast, at mid day of yesterday, the Indians had attacked a train of carts loaded for H. P. Bee, dispersing the cartmen, wounding one, took possession of, and destroyed as many of the goods, as they they could, and

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