WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
480
Comanches at Houston, which, while I was chief, was not broken -that it was broken by bad men, and that the whites and Comanches have since that time seen much trouble and distress. Tell them that a great council is to be held of all the tribes friendly to peace and to Texas about the full moon in the month of April next, at or near, the old council ground on Tahwoccany Creek, to which the people of my Great Brother, the President of the United States, will be asked to come and assist the great chief of Texas and his red brothers in making a lasting peace; because my great brother the President of the United States is anxious to see the people of Texas and their red brothers all friends. It is to this council you will invite the chiefs of the various tribes, particularly the Comanches and Kiowas, to come; and you will induce them by every proper representation so to do; particu- larly assuring them of the interest the United States feel in the matter. Tell the chiefs that I hope they will send runners to the Comanches and Kiowas, and other tribes, with talks of peace, and invite them to the council. Let them be assured that the toma- hawk is buried, and the gun and the spear laid aside. A preliminary treaty was concluded in August last, with Pah- hah-yuco, the principal chief of the Comanches, stipulating a suspension of hostilities until the middle of the present month, when it was then anticipated a council would be holden on the Clear Fork of the Brazos. From the fact that it will be impos- sible to meet them in council at that time, it will be necessary, when you meet the Comanches, to enter into further stipulations for the suspension of hostilities until the council on T'ahwoccany Creek in April next. You will be able to explain to them the reasons why no commissioners were sent out to meet them on the Clear Fork of the Brazos in Council. The late period at which the Council at Bird's Fort was concluded and the subse- quent continuous rains and high waters, with the difficulty of transporting the presents intended for them, &c., &c., will satisfy them that the government has not been acting in bad faith. You will inform the Comanches that their people now prisoners in our hands will be delivered up as soon as peace is made; when it will be expected that the Comanches and other tribes holding our people as prisoners, will also deliver them all up. The Indians will remember that two of their people have been restored to
•
Powered by FlippingBook