WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
318
PRESIDENT'S TALK TO THE INDIAN CHIEFS 1
Executive Department, Washington, 13th Feby, 1843
Brothers, The great rains, like your sorrows, I hope, have passed off, and the sun is again shining upon us. When we all make peace, it will be to the heart like the sunshine is to our eyes. We will feel joy and gladness. Sorrow will no longer fill our hearts. The noise of an enemy will not be near us, and there will be none to make us afraid. The voices of our women and children will be gladness. They will be heard, cheerful as the song of Birds which sing in the green woods of summer. The sleep of your people will not be disturbed. The hunter will not be alarmed in his camp. When our people meet their red brothers-they will grasp them by the hands, as friends, and they will no more remember their sorrows. I will send good Agents to you who will give you my Talks, and when you may wish it, they will send your Talks to me. My heart will be warm towards you, and your people. If my people act badly towards your people, I will punish them. Our laws have given to the head chief of Texas a right to do so. If your people do wrong to us, they must be punished ! I will' keep our people from stealing from you, and you must not let your people steal from ours. Bad men who are our enemies must be looked upon by you as enemies. You will be our neighbors and friends, and those who would injure us, wou'd do you wrong likewise. Let no Indians trouble our frontier and we will make you presents as brothers! When we know that you are our friends, we will sell you arms, powder, & lead to kill game. We will buy your skins, your mules, horses, and Jacks, or we will buy your sheep and goats if you should bring any to our trading houses. I have sent for fine lances to make presents to the chiefs who are most friendly, and I will send them by the Agent in October! or I will send for the chiefs, and with my own hands, I will present them. I hope one Chief of each Band (at least) will come to see me, so soon as the Treaty is over. My counsellors will show you the way to my house ! Come! and no harm shall fall upon you, but you shall return to your people with presents and happy. You may rely upon my words-they are not false-nor will I let harm trouble you, as it did at Bexar! Those sorrows must be forgotten-the thoughts of them onlv make the heart sad,-sorrow cannot bring back our friends. Let peace now be made that we may lose no more, and trouble will not come upon us.-Let the wild bi·others who love
I
I
I I
Powered by FlippingBook