WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1837
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The subject will then be laid before congress and you can know what will be done. Until then I would advise my Red Brothers the Chiefs, with their people to raise Corn on the Canadian and to keep peace among themselves and all the people around them. Tell them that I hope they-will live at peace and in quietness. You can see Kendall Lewis and let him know what I talk of, and I hope they will let my words rest upon their hearts. Sam Houston. 1 Sam Houston Letters, The University of Texas Library. This letter, as well as those included in the notes, was copied from photostats presented to The University of Texas Library by Mr. ·Grant Foreman. This letter from Houston to Harper created a good deal of concern among the Indian agencies in Arkansas, and because the following letters manifest that concern, and give an insight into the Indian situation as related to Texas, they are included here: "Choctaw Agency, 10th May, 1837. "C. A. Harris, Esqr. Commissioner of Ind. Affrs. "Sir-I have the honor to enclose for your information a copy of a letter from Sarni Houston to Lieut Peter Harper, a white man who married a- Cherokee. The original of this letter was sent to Hopothleyoholo by Mr. Harper. I also enclose a copy of my letter to the United States District Attorney of Arkansas, from which you will see the course I have adopted. "The Creeks as well as the Cherokees, have a great disposition to engage in the contest between the Texians and the Mexicans, and there are those among them, more especially with the Cherochees, who are secretly en- couraging such a design. It is calculated to operate injuriously upon the Indians to have anything to do with this contest, thereby drawing them from their proper pursuits and calculated to alienate their confidence from the Government of the United States as well as impairing the proper in- fluence which is desirable for agents to have over Indians. "I have and shall continue to use my efforts to check anything of the kind. I have counseled with the Creeks and remonstrated against their having anything to do with any other person or Government but the United States and their authorized agents. They have assured me that from hence- forth they will attend to my advice. "I have felt it my duty to submit the copy of Genl Houston's letter to the Department that they may see that which are making to draw the Indians off. "This influence is felt here, and more especially with the Cherokees. "Wm. Armstrong, Act. Supt. West Tert.'' William Armstrong's letter to Samuel Hall, the United States District Attorney for Arkansas is as follows: "Choctaw Agency, 10th May, 1837 "Sarni Hall Esqr "Sir I enclose you copy of a letter signed Saml Houston to Lt. Peter Harper, a white man who has married a Cherokee, and is said to be an officer in the Texian Army the original letter is in the hands of Hopoth- leyoholo the Creek Chief. Should you deem this an infraction of the Inter- course Law of 1834 you will please have a writ issued against Harper who is now in the Cherokee Nation. It would be needless for me to refer you
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