Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. V

347 ger. In the mean time I shall hope the campaign of the U. S. forces this spring and summer will relieve our frontier from the repetition of present evils after the present year. I am gentlemen Respectfully

HR. RUNNELS

April 22, 1859 Letter of Gov. R. to T. D. Buchanan and Others of Kerr County

[Endorsed]

No. 256

INSTRUCTIONS OF GoVERNOR RUNNELS TO GEORGE B. ERATH AND OTHERS [JUNE 6, 1859] Instructions To Messrs Erath, Coke, Smith, Brown and Steiner Peace Commissioners &c 1st The first and main object of your mission is to prevent all future violence between the Citizens of Texas, and the Friendly Indians on the Reservation and U. S. Troops there Stationed- You will therefore repair at the earliest possible time to the Lower Reservation and if you find any armed body of Citizens assembled there or in that vicinity You will Confer with them and with the Agent at the Reserve and Officer in Command of the U. S. Troops there Stationed. 2nd With acts of violence which may have been already com- mitted you have nothing to do, as they must be adjudicated upon by the Courts of the County, but you will use all your exertions to gather facts for the purpose of ascertaining the true causes of the difficulties and to remove, by all legal means, those causes in the future and thereby Secure a Settlement between the parties which will assure permanent peace- 3rd You will use all peaceable and lawful means to induce the Citizens to desist from further violence and retire to their homes by giving them assurances of the determination of the Federal Government to remove the Indians beyond the limits of the State at an early day as well as of the earnest desire and unceasing ef- forts of the State Authorities to hasten that consummation and

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