WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
40
But it was not until 1843 that I was enabled to induce them to meet the Executive above the settlements on the Brazos, nor would they even then agree to meet the Executive, except in the midst of a large prairie, and without a guard or troops. On meet- ing them the Executive induced them to enter into the woodland and encamp. There he counselled and treated with twenty chiefs of the various tribes. That treaty was maintained by the Indians from 1843 to 1848, or if any depredations were com- mitted, it was only by a few outlaws, or by bands not embraced in the treaty. The agent appointed by the President for the Indians was Major Neighbors, who resided among the Comanches and travel- led with them in their excursions and hunts. So peace was main- tained throughout the administration of Mr. Polk. Unfortunately the succeeding administration removed Major Neighbors, and appointed a gentleman 3 whose health was not such as to enable him to even visit the Indians.. Such was the regard of the Indians for the treaty made on the Brazos in 1843, that when the annexa- tion of Texas to the United States took place and Mr. Polk sent his commissioners by way of Red river to meet the Indians at Phantom Hill, where they were to assemble, the Indians refused to hold a council, alledging that they had promised their brother, the Chief of the Brazos Treaty that they would hold no council with any one unless sent by him, and that they had even promised to kill their own bad men if they hurt his people, or if they let other bad men come into their nation they would take them immediately to his agent. They said that the Indians lacked a Great Father; that they had no Great Father, but that the Chief of the Brazos had told them at the treaty that whenever he should send commissioners to them, he would also send a cask and a ring so that they might know that the commissioners were good men; so until the ring was produced they would hold no council. Thus matters were until one of the Commissioners started an express out to obtain the ring. After going several hundred miles, he returned with it and a cask and entered into treaty with the tribes assembled. But the promises made to the Indians there were never per- formed, and the fraud practised upon them was most infamous, and has cost hundreds of lives and tens of thousands of dollars in property. The manner in which that treaty was made was in this way: The signatures of the Chiefs were taken on a blank sheet of paper, and thus ended the execution of the treaty.-•
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