Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. III

TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859

41

No. 57 LETTER FROM J. P. HENDERSON TOT. I. SMITH

Executive Department Austin, May 5, 1846

To

Col. Thomas I. Smith,

Sir,

Herewith you will receive a Commission authorizing you to proceed to the Indian Tribes, within the limits and on the fron- tier of the State of Texas and with said Commission you will receive a Copy of the Act of the Legislature under which you have been appointed. You will proceed with all dispatch to visit, in connection with Genl. E. Morehouse, such of the Indian Tribes on the frontier of the State as you think proper to visit. Watch their movements and endeavor to find out their dispositions and intentions in regard to the present difficulty between Mexico and the United States, and also, ascertain whether there are any Mexican emmissaries amongst them. The Executive of the State has not the power to authorize you to hold any official intercourse with the Indians or to enlist them in the War against Mexico--that power belongs to the General Government and you will be careful not to violate any policy or law for the Government of the Indians and also to avoid saying anything or doing any act which will interrupt the progress of any Treaty which the authorities of the General Government may wish to make and confine your labors to watching the move- ments of the varous tribes and securing their friendship by proper conversations. When you visit the United States Indian Commissioners and Agents you will communicate to them fully the object of your visit to the Indian Tribes as the Executive has done in writing. You will also communicate to those Com- missioners and Agents, as well as to this Department in the most safe and expeditious manner, every important fact which may come under your observation, connected with your duty. It is made your duty especially to direct your attention to those tribes most likely to commit hostilities upon the frontier or join the Mexicans against the United States and finally you are instructed to report to this Department your observations at

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