PREFACE hns PUBLICATION of Texas Indian Papers covers the period of Texas Statehood from 1846 through ISM). E a r l i e r_ publica- tions were concerned with the years from 1825 through 1845. The transition from Republic to Statehood resulted in a period of indecision in Texas-Indian relations. The United States Gov- ernment had taken primary responsibility for the control of the Indian Nations, but when Federal facilities proved to be in- adequate, local frontier organizations and self-help by the set- tlers continued to play an important role in frontier protection. This compilation contains documents from almost all govern- mental departments that dealt with Indian matters, and these sources vividly depict the turbulence of this era in Texas History. The original copies of the Texas Indian Papers were found to contain such a diverse assortment of material that a set of rules could not be established to cover every problem in editing. Particularly helpful suggestions have been supplied by Clarence E. Carter, Historical Editing (1952) and the sections on "The Copying of Manuscripts" and "The Editing and Printing of Manuscripts" in the Harvard Guide to American History (1955). Also examined for style and for suggestions were Charles Gulick and others (eds.), Papers of Mirabeau Buon~ parte Lamar (1920-1927), Amelia W. Williams and Eugene C. Barker (eds.), Writings of Sam, Houston (1938-1943), Eugene C. Barker (ed.), Austin Papers (1924-1928), and William C. Binkley (ed.), Official Correspondence of the Texan Revolution, 1885-1886 (1936). The documents are listed in chronological order. In almost all instances the originals have been copied verbatim et litera- tim. Words or letters have been supplied only when the docu- ment was illegible or torn, or where the orthography was such as to render its meaning doubtful. The printed copy was read numerous times against the original manuscript, and [sic] was inserted only when there was a feeling that a doubt would re- main in the reader's mind about a strange spelling, a date, or a fact. When an original document was not used, a notation has been given. An effort has been made to maintain consistent spelling with reference to proper names, localities, Indian tribes,
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