'l
l I I I I I
137
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1855
advantages which the Indians of the South possessed from the earliest recollection of the Senator. But, sir, how would a force of Indians embody themselves on the frontiers and remain for twenty days embodied? It can not be done. My honorable colleague [Mr. Rusk] well knows that they can not do it, unless they have the appliances and comfor~ of the white man; unless they have stock from which they can prepare provisions for the occasion, and produce grain. It is impossible, sir, and it is now their daily employment, with the exception of a few outlaws or war parties that occasionally go_ out to engage in hunting, to support their women and children, and to keep them from starvation. Yes, sir, it is impossible that they can embody themselves, and remain fourteen days embodied, in an attitude menacing to the security of our frontier settle- ments. I apprehend no danger. We find, from every circumstance, that the Indians there are perfectly disposed to peace and con- ciliation. There is no disposition to go to war, except on the part of some outlaws in each tribe, who may go on predatory excursions, regardless of the authority of their chiefs; but the chiefs have influence enough, for they are despotic, their power is absolute, and if you will give them time they will control the tribe, and those fellows will be surrendered, and make an atone- ment for their crimes. They will be surrendered, for, after the killing-I will not call it massacre-or after their repelling of the attack made by Lieutenant Grattan and his party, which terminated so disastrously to them, amounting almost to their entire extermination, the chiefs, apprehensive of the conse- quences, and of the difficulty of having the facts presented to this Government, and fearing the involvement of their wives and chil- dren in difficulties, and that they should be harassed and reduced to starvation to an extent greater than they had yet experienced, came forward with propositions to make reparation for the injury done, and to surrender the offenders. But the officer did not receive them. No, sir, he drove them off: "Away, sir, I want nothing to do with you." If you wish to have a force, under such circumstances, exercising no more discretion or precaution than is here evinced, sufficient to protect our frontier, you will have to maintain three hundred thousand instead of three thou- sand. Why could he not have said to the Indians: "Bring in the chiefs, I will await the decision," or, "The agent will be here, or is here; talk to him"; but no, sir, the officers were willing to take the responsibility without referring it to the agent.
't :1
j
I !,
' ,, ;,
I' I
\1 I ,,
Powered by FlippingBook