WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
535
To GAIL·BORDEN, JR. 1 Executive Department, City of Houston, March 25h., 1842. To Gail Borden, Jr., Esq., &c. Sir,-Reclamation has been made upon me by the French Min- ister, for sundry waggons, the property of a French citizen, cap- tured on board the schooner "Progreso." You will take proper measures to secure the said waggons safely, and keep them in your possession and subject to such dis- position as the government may make for the same. Sam Houston. 1 Executive Rec01·d Book, No. 40, p. 75, Texas State Library. To MAJOR THOMAS J. SMITH 1 Executive Dep_artment, City of Houston, March 25h. 1842. To Major Thomas J. Smith,2 Sir: I have been informed that there are some persons on the frontier who have a disposition to molest the Tancahua and Lipan Indians. They cannot be good citizens, or they would wish to preserve peace with them. Should any property be stolen from the Indians, or injury done them, I hope you will have active measures taken for its restora- tion and for the preservation of their friendship. If they were hostile to us, they could do us much harm in our present critical condition. If our situation should require it, they could be ren- dered very useful by employing them against the common enemy. I do hope, therefore, that you and other staid citizens, who have a substantive interest in the country, and wish your homes on the frontiers protected, would deliberately adopt such measures as will prevent all probable interruption and preserve tranquility. Sam Houston. 1 Executive Record Book, No. 40, p. 75, Texas State Library. 2 Thomas J. Smith was the commander of the Rangers, and in March, 1843, was appointed one of the Indian Commissioners to meet the various Indian tribes and to make a treaty with them. This treaty was the Inst one ever made by the Republic of Texas; it was signed on November 16, 18-15, on Tahuacana Creek (near Waco, Texas), by G. W. Terrell, and Thomas J. Smith, commissioners for the Republic on the first part, and by the chiefs of the various Indian tribes on the second part. For a detailed ac-<.'ount of Smith's activities as a commander of the Texas Rangers and as nn Indian commissioner see Indian Affairs (MS.), Texas State Library; for br:er ac-
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