WRITINGS OF SAJH HOUSTON, 1852
342
again to renew their incursions. These are the circumstances under which we have existed. Without intending to cast any reflections, I state facts which are known and well established. No protection has been given to the citizens of Texas or to Mexico by the troops stationed there. l_am merely stating facts; I cast no reflections on any body . . . I understood the gentleman to ask my colleague, if he were present, whether he would desire the frontiers of Texas to be habits-a man who would traverse the prairies with them. He an agent to do. He remained there, and men who were capaci- exposed to the same depredations to which Virginia had been in its first settlement? I understood the interrogatory in that way; but perhaps I did not hear the question distinctly. Mr. Pearce. My question is whether they would be willing to have troops of the United States withdrawn from their borders? Mr. Houston. With great pleasure, if they will establish peace with the Indians. That might be done for one forth part of the money expended to maintain the forces there, if it was properly used . . . Upan that point I will say, if the gentleman will permit me, that for two years previous to annexation, perfect peace was maintained upon the frontiers of Texas. Not a depredation was committed, and the whole amount of money placed at the dis- posal of the Executive of Texas, and expended for that purpose, was $10,000. Only the sum of $10,000 was ever appropriated by the Government of Texas for that purpose, and with a careful and judicious disbursement of that amount, peace was maintained upon the frontier of Texas. Indians came into the interior to treat. They hunted their deer, obtained their skins, exchanged them with the merchants, and maintained perfect peace and concord with the settlers for two years anterior to annexation. Never until six months afterwards was the peace infracted by the Indians... Mr. President, it has been my anxious desire to see business progress in the Senate. I have manifested that desire by an almost entire silence since the session commenced. Very unex- pectedly today I was induced to make some remarks in reply to an interrogatory presented to my honorable colleague during his temporary absence. Hence it was that I was induced to make any remarks upon the subject. I made no charge against the Executive, either of corruption or incompetency. I stated facts that are notorious, and cannot be contradicted. However, that a more perfect explanation, in a few words, may be presented to
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