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TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
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Some of the Indians who were on at Washington last sum- mer, have been to see me, within a few days past, and expressed their fears that troubles would ensue, if the promises made by the commissioners, relative to these presents, were not fulfilled --Some of those Indians, I know personally, and have every confidence in their statement. Anyone conversant with Indian character, well knows how important it is, in order to preserve their friendship, that every promise made to them, should be observed with the most scru- pulous good faith, and I trust, if it lies in your Excellency's power, that immediate steps will be taken to satisfy their ex- pectations in this matter. A few thousand dollars, in presents, judiciously distributed among them, would go very far to inspire them with confidence in the Government, and conciliate their friendship--It would be one of the most effective means that could be employed, of averting difficulties, and restraining their evil passions, until such time as the Government can make arrangements to carry out its objects relative to those tribes, and may, in the end, save a vast expense and trouble to the U. States. I have been informed that many persons on the frontier, have been lately engaged in selling illicit articles to the Indians, such as ammunition, arms etc, but above all, ardent spirits. At one time alone, I have been told, four barrels of Whiskey have been introduced among them, by a single individual. In order to obtain the above articles, especially Whiskey, the Indians sell their horses and peltries at a great sacrifice, and doubtless are much imposed upon and cheated-The consequence is, that they are induced to steal other horses from the white settlers, and commit depredations, which must soon bring them into collision with each other. Another cause well calculated to produce difficulties with the Indians (and which will assuredly have that effect unless soon removed) is the excursions made through what they claim as their own soil, by speculators looking for land-surveying parties etc. The Indians have always been accustomed to look with extreme jealousy at any step, indicative of a design on the part of the whites, to assume an ownership over their hunting grounds, and the chain and compass have ever been regarded among them, as the emblems of fraud and usurpation. Under existing circumstances, the Executive of this State
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