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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1855
I have not been regardless of what I considered the honor of the United States, and the interests of the Indians. In no in- stance have I been remiss in these particulars. I could not cater to any passion or prejudice on this subject, because I know of no societies in the North, or in the South, or in any section of this Union, for the advancement of the civilization of the Indians. If such societies exi_st, I am not in correspondence with them, nor am I aware of the existence of any such associations. Then for what ulterior purposes could I advocate the rights of the Indians, or invoke the justice of this Government toward them? ._Could it be any expectation of political benefits? None upon ·earth. I presume the Abolitionists are perfectly absorbed in the _subject of Abolition. For myself, I would rather see them turn their attention to the amelioration of the condition of the Indians on our western wilds, or to the reclamation of those whom they hold in slavery. There are not less than two thousand prisoners in the hands of the Comanches; four hundred in one band, in my own State. The prisoners can be reclaimed from those Indians, who are coming down to settle upon their reservations. They take no prisoners but women and boys. The boys they treat with a degree of barbarity unprecedented; and their cruelties to- ward the females are nameless and atrocious. Our Government is silent in relation to them. Has humanity no claims upon us in this respect? Has justice no demand unanswered? Sir, we have not seen the facts to which I have just alluded impressed on a page of our official communications from the War Depart- ment. The officers stationed near the places where those trans- actions have taken place have not reported them. No effort has been made to obtain appropriations for the reclamation and redemption of those prisoners. This is a subject which calls aloud for the humane influence of the Senator. There is no "sickly sentimentality" in this, but a manly upheaving of soul, that, in commiseration of suffering humanity, demands that the Government shall rescue them from the most cruel and unrelent- ing bondage. I have been accused of catering to a morbid "sickly sentimen- tality." Sir, I never yielded anything of my own conscientious .convictions to consult the opinions of others. I never stooped to solicit office; but I have received and accepted it to my own disadvantage. I might have hated th~ Indians, if I had a soul no bigger than a shell-bark. [Laughter.]
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