WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
39
I now propose to give you the facts in the case, the plain reason why the treaty in question should be held, and it will then only remain for the Federal Government to carry it out; but until it is done, there will be no peace, or security on our borders. You may occasionally surprise the Indians by finding their lodges in the prairies, and may for the time get the advantage of them, but this will never secure peace, for the nature of the -Indian is to retaliate for the loss of slain kindred. This is not the plan, then, to give security to our people, because the Indian can, in small parties penetrate our settlements, murder the in- habitants, and escape with their booty, before a force can be collected to give pursuit, and numerous men are afraid to leave their families, while the Indians remain in the country, not know- ing but that their families may be the next victims of their barbarity. The troops of the regular army stationed in Texas are generally Infantry, and against Indians they are utterly useless 1 for the Indians will not go near them nor can they pursue the Indians, who always return from their forays on fine horses which they have stolen from the citizens. If we cannot be defended by the means used, how shall we obtain security? Simply by making treaties with these Indians who depredate upon us, and convince them that it is to their interest to maintain the peace when it is made. To show the feasibility of this plan, and to demonstrate its success, you will, I hope, permit me, without incurring the imputation of egotism, to refer to a time, when it was fairly tested and accomplished the happiest results. When the new Executive of the Republic of Texas came into office in 1840, he found an Indian war raging on the frontier along the Rio Grande, and from that river to Red river. Such had been the exasperation of feeling arising from the murder of some of their Chiefs at San Antonio in 1840, that they were un- willing to receive any proposals of peace, giving as reason, the murder of their Chiefs when they had come to make peace, and they could not, therefore, trust the whites; nor were they brought to a knowledge that the man who had made peace with them in 1838 was again President. This was finally made known to them through the Delaware and Shawnee trailers employed by the President to exert their influence with the several tribes on our frontier, as well as the various bands of the Comanche Nation.
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