156
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1850
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from all quarters, it does seem to me it is unnecessary to pack her with any additional load which does not of right belong to her. The miserable condition of the Pueblo Indians, which my friend has depicted, he seems to impute to Texas, as the result of some defect in the administration of her laws, or that she had incurred some responsibility in consequence of their miserable and un- protected condition. My friend has perhaps never been within five hundred and fifty miles of the point to which he proposes these boundaries should come. Of course, he cannot speak as to the situation of the people who are to be directly affected by it; but he has reference to those on the lower Rio Grande on both sides. Now, Texas has never assumed that the conquest of her arms extended to both sides of the Rio Grande; she only claims that they extended to the western bank. Texas does not extend her claim beyond the Rio Grande, and I do not think she is responsible for the condition of the Pueblo Indians west of the Rio Grande. I admit that they are in a miserable condition. It will be rec- ollected that, at the time of annexation there was no trouble from the wild Indians there. Texas was at peace on her entire frontier. She had no local force to protect her frontier. She had not a solitary man who bore the name of an officer, and who then rendered service, within her entire domain, except one captain, who took care of some guns, for we had not much am- munition, to take care of. That was the standing army; yet we had no complaint of slaughtered families or of plunder and 1·ob- bery along our frontiers, as is now the case; so that these Pueblo Indians have not to complain of Texas, but of the United States. There were no depredations committed, until the autho1;ity of the United States was extended over that country, since 1845. And it was under the auspices of influential individuals in Texas that the United States were enabled to hold treaties with the Comanches on our border. It was through their agency that persons were sent to the Indians, who induced them to come and make treaties with the United States. At that time, extravagant promises were made to them of presents and other advantages; and when these pledges were broken, and the Indians discovered that they were not to be fulfilled, they became hostile to Texas, so that there are fears that even she may be deluged in blood. This is part of the history of that time. The United States is responsible for the state of things which now exists, and if she will now spread her broad shield over us, so that we may enjoy the peace we had under our single star, we shall be grateful for
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