WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
518
and elected John Austin their captain. (See La11ui1· Papers, I, 96-97.) In 1834, Asa Brigham served for a short time as alcalde of the colony; he was a delegate to the Washington Convention, March, 1836, and became c•ne of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and of the first Constitution of the Republic (see Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, pp. 1066, J084). He served as the auditor for the Government an interim (Lamrtr Pape1·s, I, 451), and was appointed as· first treasurer of the new Republic by Houston on December 20, 1836, an appointment that was confirmed by the Senate on the same day. On January 16, 1839, Lamar reappointed Brigham treasurer (Sec-1·ct JoHrnals, 127), but on April 12, asked for his resignation, stating that the condition of Brigham's health required his absence from the office and that the men he had left as substitutes were not rendering efficient service. ( Lamar PrtJJe1·s, III, 369). Brigham died ut his home on the Brazos in 1844.
To THE TEXAS SENATE 1
Executive Department, Columbia, 20th Dec. 1836
To the Honorable The Senate Gentlemen I have the pleasure of laying before you a Treaty made the 23rd day of February 1836 between the commissioners on the part of the Provisional Government of Texas on the one part, and the chiefs, head men etc. of the Cherokee Indians and their associate bands then residing in Texas of the other part, and most earnestly recommend its ratification. You will find upon examining this treaty, that it is just and equitable, and per- haps the best that could be made at the present time. It only se- cures to the said Indians the usufructuary right to the country included withi nthe boundary discribed in the treaty, and does not part with the right of soil, which is in this Government; and neither are the rights of any citizen of the Republic impaired by the views of the treaty, but are all carefully secured by the third article of the same. In considering this treaty, you will doubt- less bear in mind the very great necessity of conciliating the dif- ferent tribes of Indians who inhabit portions of country almost in the centre of our settlements as well as those who extend along our frontier. This becomes the more judicious at present when we are at war with Mexico, the authorities of which have been labouring to engage the different tribes to war against us; and it has been confidentially stated, that these Indians are among the number, who have already engaged to join the Mexican army against us in the event of a second invasion, they being induced doubtless by promises of land and country; and should you ratif:r
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