WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1839
344
This treaty would have been ratified on the part of the govern- ment, when the commissioners returned, but the provisional gov- ernment had ceased to exist. When the convention assembled, they had to organize the government-form a constitution-and reduce chaos to order; and they had but little time to transact the business. They passed a sweeping clause ratifying all the acts of the consultation, including this much a.bused Indian treaty. Was this no acknowledgment of the rights of the Indians? Mexico owned the land, and she ceded it to the Indians- Texas counquered the country, and she confirmed the grant. What better title, he would ask, could be required than this? · And if specu- lators and land pirates had violated this sacred pledge, they had done it at their own peril, and they could acquire no right by their own wrong. Their claims were founded in perjury and villany, and it was due to the country, and due to our own repu- tation that we should wash our hands of the transaction, by stripping them of their ill got gains. What moral effect would a rejection of this bill produce? What would be said of us in foreign nations? Here we were bound in a pledge as solemn as the authorities of a government could make it to guarantee the Indians in the possession of their lands-some of our citizens, contrary to law, enter upon their territory, and rob them of their little farms and possessions, until the Indians, stung by these repeated wrongs and injuries, attempt a protection of their own rights-not by acts of rapine and murder, but by peacebly ordering them from their territory. The government of Texas then raises a force and marches to the Cherokee country and drives them from their lands, and guaran- tees the intruders in their ill got claims. The term "punic faith" could never be more justly applied than it would be to us on this occasion. No. Sir, (said Mr. Houston) if we cannot do full justice to the Indians, let us at least clear ourselves of the inpu- tation of a participation in the crime. But those who had been engaged in this business, had not alone endeavored to swindle the Indians- for men who had a penchant to steal, were not usually very particular who were the sufferers. We had heard of a speculator who came to San Augustine, with one or two hundred certificates in his pocket. He offered them at an unusual low price, and was about to effect some sales, when on examining his saddle bags, he found that his claims had found the way out of his possession- he said he did not care anything
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