46
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1848
Caddo Indians, and one of the conditions of that treaty was, that they should remove south of the Red Ri_ver, thereby throwing them upon the soil of Texas. Was this contrived by delinquent agents, and consummated by their mismanagement? Or was it by the connivance of the Government? At all events, remon- strances were made to the Government of the United States by the authorities of Texas, and they were disregarded. This Govern- ment, so far from redeeming the pledges by which she was bound in honor, permitted her agents to pay the annuities to those Indians in rifles, ammunition, and instruments of war. The con- sequence was, that the inhabitants of our frontier were massacred from the Red river to the Rio Grande. We felt the calamities of savage warfare. It is natural that we should sympathize with the sufferers of Yucatan. The question recurs: Shall we aid Yucatan? At one time the case of Texas was similar to that which is now before us. In 1843, owing to the character of the war waging upon Texas by Mexico, and the frequent molestations of the former to the latter, application was made to the United States, England, and France, invoking their interposition in behalf of Texas; and the interpo- sition was solicited on the ground that the war conducted by Mexico was contrary to the principles and usages of civilized warfare. They had united with their regular troops the wild Indians, and with them made incursions from the west to the Rio Grande, upon our villages and settlements. After this appli- cation was made to the Powers above referred to, they all con- cluded that it was a matter of too much delicacy in which to interfere, and left Texas to her fate. If either of the Powers appealed to had separately stepped forward in aid of Texas, after the other two had declined, or turned a deaf ear to her solicita- tions, could they have urged it as a ground of complaint against that Power which had magnanimously interposed? Why do Americans love France? Because she was the friend of this nation in calamity. Why do Americans now rejoice in her triumphs? Because Frenchmen participated in the achievement of our inde- pendence. This gratitude of nations is like that of individuals, because they are composed of individuals, and gratitude is the offspring of a noble heart in return for generous benefits con- ferred. Sir, let us not be laggard upon this occasion. Let us not be alien in feeling towards a people that look to us for an act of friendship. Let us make them fast friends by acts of justice if not of munificence. All remember the period, and it is not long since, when there were sympathizers on this floor, and every
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