TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
218
Sir I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th of Feb. enclosing a copy of the joint report of your- self and Capt R B Marcy showing the selection of 12 leagues of land for the Indian purposes. made under an act of the legis- lature of this state approved Feby 1854, and also a letter of Capt Marcy in relation to said selection-- I perceive that Capt Marcy expresses the opinion that as the legislature did not specify what measure should be used in surveying the reservation, it must be presumed that their inten- tion was that the surveys be made according to the standard measure of the United States and says that he is sustained in this opinion by the Secretary of War. This opinion must have been given without a knowledge of the laws of Texas, for wherever a league of land is spoken of in the land law, either since or before annexation it has been invariably held to mean a league in Spanish or Mexican measure, and no other measure of a league has even been known or recognized under our laws. I have no doubt however that our legislature will at its next meeting confirm the selectic,ns that have been made of tract leagues according to the standard measurement of the United States, as they have hitherto manifested a disposition to co- operate with and extend every facility to the General Govern- ment in carrying out its Indian policy within this State. In the mean time, I have in accordance with your request, caused the field notes of the twelve leagues as surveyed to be plotted upon the maps of the General Land Office, and they will be treated as appropriated for Indian purposes under the act re- ferred to until the Legislature can act in regard to the proper measurement, with the 4 options of six half sections of three hundred and twenty acres each numbered 1011, 1012, 1014, 1015, ·1017, and 1018 which are included within the lines of the eight league tract and appear to have been entered and surveyed for the "Texas Emmigration and Land Company" before these selections were made these six half sections will have to be purchased by the United States from that company if they are desired for Indian purposes, if it wishes. Very respectfully Your Obt.Servt [E. M. PEASE]
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