WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
400
Chiefs who wish to be friendly should talk to each other. They should know each other's thoughts and have peace. Peace will make the red and white men happy. If we have war, our men must perish in battle. They will not return to our feasts, not sit by our council fires. Peace will save our warriors from death and our women and children from trou- ble. Then the buffalo can be killed and the wigwams filled with plenty. Hunger and distress will be far away. When peace is made firm between us, trading-houses will be established and all things that your people need, our traders will have to sell to them. You will not have to go to a great distance, but in the midst of your hunting-grounds you can find land where you will find buffalo and water. The warm sun of the South will give you grass in winter, and no longer will you have to travel to the snows of the North to get your goods. You can sell your horses and your mules-your silver and your gold, and all you have to dispose of to our traders. When peace is made firm be- tween us, and we know that you are our friends, and there is no more war upon our borders, we will sell you Powder and leaa, tomahawks, spears, guns, and knives, so you can kill your game without trouble. Friends only sell these things to each other; and we cannot let you have them until we have made a firm and lasting peace. When the path between us is smooth and white, and all trouble removed from our footsteps, we shall then know that you are our friends and not our enemies. When the Great Spirit smiles, clouds and darkness are taken away from our path. When he frowns, war and death and trouble come upon us. Let us listen to the counsels of the old men. Let us live like brothers and be happy. When the pipe of peace is smoked, you may come to see me, and none will do you harm. The white and the red men will meet as brothers. The Comanches once made peace with me at Houston. We smoked together, and they returned safely to their people. But a bad chief came in my place, and bad traders went among them and carried trouble with them. At a council in San Antonio many Comanche chiefs were killed by bad men. I was then far away, and did not hear of it till it was over. I was filled with sorrow. My heart was sad. The man who counseled to do this bad thing is no longer chief in Texas. His voice is no 16nger heard among the people, and he has no more power to harm the red men.
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