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and enhance the chances of success ten fold. The Comanches are now on Red River, just below the moun- tains, and not far from the Fort Smith and Santa Fe road. We can reach them in twelve or fifteen days. All I ask, is to find them, and of that I feel quite certain. The war spirit is up among the Indians on this Reserve- day after to-morrow they hold a war dance, at which I shall be present. They will then let us know how many men they can raise. I take this occasion to observe, that the tribes located here are all right. They have cut loose from the wild Indians for good, and have, so far as they can, identified themselves with the white, in every way. They say they wish to become Americans. The strides they are making in the way of becoming civilized are great, and, I might even say, astonishing. They are trying to imitate the whites in manners, in dress, in agriculture, and in all essential particulars. They have large fields of wheat and corn, which they have planted themselves, and are now cultivating. Waggons drawn by oxen and driven by Indians; women and chil- dren dropping corn; all give to the scenes at the different villages quite an American appearance. There is no disorder, no discon- tent, and no disposition to give trouble to the Agent or the Gov- ernment. They are endeavoring to fulfil the treaty stipulations, and to give satisfaction to the Americans. I speak of what I have seen and heard, and believe it is true. I should view any combi- nation of circumstances which tended towards the breaking up of this Reserve, as a serious misfortune to the State of Texas, and a calamity over which the philanthropist might mourn. Pol- icy, humanity, and economy, are the leading arguments in favor of civilizing the Indians. It is cheaper in both lives and money than to fight them. It appears to be the mission of the American people to elevate, and not to depress the masses with whom they may come in contact. After all can be said against the Indian, he is human, and entitled to consideration as such, and when they stand and ask to be releived from the clogs of barbarism, it is a christian duty in us to extend them a helping hand.- These remarks are made in the spirit of candor, and with- out any intention of committing myself as a party to the quarrel being waged between some of the people and the Supervising Agent.-There are almost eleven hundred Indians under Capt Ross and if some of the number have not killed somebody's cattle, or stolen someone's horses, they are better than the same num- ber of White people, but that they are engaged in fitting out expeditions to kill our citizens, plunder our frontier settlements
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