WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1858
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twenty miles to consummate that handsome establishment that was to be made·anew. Thus the protection of the fort was with- drawn, not only from the Indians of the reserve, but from the inhabitants who were settling along the reserve, and taken out of the way in a westerly direction not interposing between the inroads of the Indians from the north at all. That ranche was understood to belong to an officer, who had, perhaps, economized sufficiently to purchase a tract of land there, supposing it would aggrandize him and make his prospects a little better. No doubt the United States, after a while, will have a claim for timber and spoilation upon his property to the amount of $150,000, and he will get it. If it were only fifteen or twenty thousand of an honest claim, he would not get it; but if it be $150,000, he can afford to hire lobby members, and $150,000 would have some in- fluence, whilst an honest demand of $20,000 would be a con- temptible thing that would be kicked out of doors. What does this intelligent gentleman say when he is written to by Captain Leeper, an Indian agent? I will let you see. Mr. Leeper wrote to the Army headquarters, at San Antonio, protesting against the removal of Fort Cooper from the reserve. The answer he received was this: "Headquarters, Department of Texas, San Antonio, April 14, 1858. "Sir: ~n reply to your communication of the 29th ultimo, relative to the change of site for the military post of Camp Cooper, I am instructed by Colonel Wilson, the department commander, to reply that orders in regard tc:, this matter have been issued; and that should Agent Leeper feel insecure in remaining where he now is, he can move the agency to a position nearer to the new site for the post. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Kenner Garrard, First Lieutenant Second Cavalry, Act- ing Assisting Adjutant General. Major R. S. Neighbors, Supervis-ing Agent, Texas Indians, Comanche Agency, Texa.s." So the agency is to be broken up to suit a few companies temporarily there, to suit the taste of officers who wish to benefit individuals by a transfer of the post. That is the spirit that actuates these men. Why should they be accommodating or just to Indian agents?. They think the Indians are dogs; and the
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