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323
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, ]8,l3
You will furnish the chiefs with such supplies, for their jour- ney as they may need to reach this point. If you cannot accom- pany them, I desire that you should obtain the services of Mr. Murray, or some one in whom you have confidence. The means of the government will not authorize more than one agent for the Lipans and Tonkeways. One ought to be sufficient, if he will give his attention to that subject alone. I know Linney, the Shawnee chief, well, and he is a good man. You may depend upon what he may promise to you. The Dela- wares are good men, and will be honest neighbors and true friends, if they say so. I have written to the commissioners and given them my views; as well in relation to the Indians generally as to the Delawares and Shawnees. I would be glad that you would see the commissioners while you are on the upper Brazos. Peace on our frontier is all important to the happiness and prosperity of the country. The prosperity of the country has been deferred for ten years, at least, by the policy (rather want of policy) and conduct of the last administration. Those evils must now be remedied by wisdom, honesty and prudence. I will rely on your best exertions to attain the object desired. Sam Houston. 1Exec11tive Record Book, No. 40, pp. 220-221, Texas State Library. Ben- jamin Franklin Bryant. See Houston to Mosely Baker, April 5, 1836.
To THOMAS M. BAGBY 1
Washington, 20th February 1843.
My Dear Sir Anxiously and in vain have I looked for a letter from you. What the cause of silence can be I have no idea. I hope that you are not indisposed in body; and if I have not been too troublesome to you, I feel that you will not be indisposed in mind or feelings. I know that in the multiplicity of my mat- ters, there must be some imposition upon my friends. To be candid with you, I have in the discharge of my duties per- plexities which no one can appreciate, unless they were to be with me all the time. From my uprising to my down lying at night, I have rarely one hour thro' the day to pass in company with Mrs. Houston. Some call on business, some through curiosity, and others, as they say "to spend the time." Now, this last is cruel to me. If they choose to waste their own time, why that is all right; but they ought to reflect when they are consuming mine
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