TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
83
Sir I enclose to you with this letter a communication which I received a day or two since from Capt Grumbles giving information concerning the Indian Chief Santa Anna and his people and you will see that he states that the Waco killed the four men who are missing from the German Colony ! Santa Anna will visit Torreys trading house soon to see you and if you are satisfied from h'is statement that the Waco killed the persons alluded to above I wish you to demand the Indians who did the act of the Waco Chiefs and assure the chiefs that if they refuse to surrender the offenders that they and their whole tribe will be held responsible. I send you also copys of such sections of the laws now in force regulating intercourse with the Indians as seems to be necessary to have strictly inforced-Copys of the same have been sent to the Captns commanding companies of our fron- tiers who will aid you in enforcing a proper observance of these laws. As there is no well defined l'ine between the Indians and our settlement you will in enforcing the 14th Section of the law of 1843 seize and destroy the spirtuous liquors of those persons only near the line who are known to have offended or who you have good reason to believe have offended against that section of the law. It seems to me that it would be a good plan to with- hold the portion of the presents intended by the Govt to be distributed to the Waco should you satisfy yourself that those Indians killed the men before named until the individual of- fenders are surrendered. Coln Hays has been ordered to Vera Cruz with his regiment and I have written to Lt Coln Bell giving my consent that he may take the two companies of that regiment now in Texas pro- vided he thinks proper to do so as it seems to be the wish of the Department at Washing[ton] that the whole regiment should be in Mexico. Should Coln Bell have to join Coln Hays I shall call out other companies to supply the place of those he will take off and shall keep seven companies on our frontier. I find that I cannot attend the Counsel ground near Torreys Trading house in Septr as I desire other engagements will pre- vent me. f Endorsed] Gov. Henderson to Aug. 23. 1847 Maj. R. S. Neighbors Relation to Indian Affairs
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