Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. III

TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859

104

No. 84 LETrER FROM G. T. WOOD TO W. L. MARCY

Executive Office, Austin, June 8, 1848.

Hon. W. L. Marcy, Sec'y of War. Sir,

Since my last communication to your Department, I have remastered into the service of the United States for the protec- tion of our frontier the several companies, stationed thereon as their services expired, to wit: Captain Highsmith's and Captain Gillett's companies. In addition to these I have authorized to be raised and mustered in an additional company for the same service, Capt Conner's. This course I felt to be imperiously dictated by the unsatisfactory state of our relation with our border Indians. On the part of the Indians there has been no remarkable demonstration of hostile intent although their acts and bearing are far from being indicative of a friendly disposi- tion or of a regard for the terms of the existing treaty. The inevitable result of such conduct on their part if persisted in will be yet more serious collission with our frontier settlers, with its unhappy train of consequences. To avert these evils I could not resist the conviction that an exting [existing] frontier defence should be kept up and strengthened to the extent I have advised you. Feeling thus I should not have ac- quitted myself of the duty I owe to the people of Texas as well as to the cause of humanity had I omitted to act as I have done. While upon the subject I will take occasion to say that, the management and conduct of our Indian relations is made ex- tremely difficult and much less efficient than is desirable, from a want of a proper arrangement between the State of Texas and the General Government, the jurisdiction of each being only a qualified one, neither can exercise that full control over this ques- tion indispensable to success. The experience of the Indian Bureau, in the management of these relations may perhaps sug- gest some mode or basis or arrangement to the establishment of which I shall at all times be ready to contribute to the extent of my power.