446
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
no forecast could save you. England was run over by your Loan Commissioners: Texas was offered in the markets of France; the United States were careless towards us; Texas remained here isolated, without hope from abroad. Your two Ministers were kicked back from Mexico, and when they returned here, they had succeeded in nothing. In the outset of the present administration, our citizens of the Santa Fe expedition were imprisoned and in chains, and their release had to be effected. Not one dollar was in the Treasury, nor the representation of one dollar. ·what was to be done? France had to be satisfied for indignities offered her Minister. The United States and England were to be roused to participate in our common interest. It became the duty of the Executive to do all this without money-without a currency. Is this all? Your frontier was bleeding with scalps from the Rio Grande to Red River. An onerous tribute was paid to sustain forces that never met the Indians; though they marched very finely. But they cost millions. What has the friendly policy cost? Not exceeding $10,000, instead of millions, heretofore, annually. And for the last year, not a scalp has been taken. We have been shown that the country has nothing to hope. Hope must be kept out of the way.-All the blame can be thrown on the Executive: as if it would ruin him without ruining the country. The Indians have all treated except the Wichitas, and all within our borders, to the North. Not the tribes that have come over from the United States, as has been asserted. They are Indians that have lived between the Red and Arkansas rivers from time immemorial. The Indian policy that preceeded this, was that of the splendid government which has gone before us, and one of extermination. It exhausted our resources, and destroyed all confidence. The public resources were profligately squandered upon parasites, creatures that must be fed. We must have influence to support us, was the reason: and the influence was got to ruin the country as nearly as it has been ruined. All failed! We have peace with the Indians now, though the treaties are not yet consummated. And what has been the expense? One fourth less: yes, one-half less than the expense of a single com- pany. Ten thousand dollars is the amount of the whole appropria- tion. The year before the present policy was adopted, what was it? Two hundred or three hundred thousand dollars was appro- priated for frontier protection, and no peace. For six years the sound of massacre spread alarm from one border of the country to the other. Even here, by their firesides, people shuddered, and blessed themselves they were not upon the frontier.
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