WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1839
320
for their protection, the patriot's widow would not wail in vain. Frequent puffs from newspapers, and paper proclamations would not do it; action-efficient action, would alone sustain our western frontier. Is the gentleman from Brazoria aware that when the army was at Gonzales, it consisted of three hundred and seventy four, half clad and half starved men, to meet a well organized army of nine thousand Mexicans. The Alamo had fallen, and its heroic defenders had been put to the sword. T'his little force was the only reliance of Texas, and the only chance of success was to fall back upon the settlements for reinforcements. He thought that some credit was due to an officer for retreating be- fore such a force, without even the loss of a horse. He had been blamed for not meeting the two divisions of Santa Anna's army at the Colorado, either of which more than doubly outnumbered his own. He had but a handful of men, and the only chance of success was for us to be always upon the alert, and watch an opportunity to fall upon the enemy by surprise. As to his Indian policy, time would test whether he was right or wrong; or whether the policy now pursued was preferable to that which he had adopted. He had endeavored to treat with them, and secure their friendship by good actions; and then secure the safety of our extensive frontier. The Cherokees, he contended, were our friends; they had re- fused to join Gen. Coss in a war against this country. They had furnished our people with bread; and during the seven years which he had lived upon the border, they had been useful to our people in many ways. They had never stolen a horse nor drawn one drop of white man's blood!! Letters, he admitted, had been written to them, to incense them to join the Mexicans. They never acceded to it. And they were friendly up to the time they were driven from their homes and country. By the treaty they were not bound to fight for us-they were only bound to keep the peace, and they had kept it. · He had not come here as the eulogist of the Indians, but since the question had been brought before the house, he would do justice to their character. i In conclusion he would remark, that the gentleman had dwelt largely upon the profit which was to accrue to this government from the sale of lots in this city.-He thought it a ridiculous idea that a government should attempt to become a speculator, or think of growing rich by selling towns. It was unworthy of this people, and degrading them to the level of the Mexican federal
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