WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
170
not appear to be any objection, but a manifest propriety, in plac- ing the Indians on the reservation referred to, on the same footing, as to policy and treatment, that prevails among the Texas Indians; nor, for all that now appears, is there any objection to the agent in charge of them being put under the direction of the Texas supervisory agent. But it is to be observed that, in obtain- ing the tractJof land from the Choctaws west of the ninety-eighth parallel of longitude, for the occupation of and colonization of the Witchita and other Indians, it was expressly understood by the Choctaws, Chickasaws, and myself, that the Indians of Texas were not to be colonized thereon, and good faith in this respect will forbid that any Texas Indians should be permitted, now or here- after, to locate within the tract referred to." That was a mistake which the Commissioner made in respect to the treaty. "You will, therefore, as supervising agent in Texas take care to permit no idea to obtain prevalence among the citizens of that State that the Texas Indians may be removed to the reservation. When the agent appointed under the recent law shall have quali- fied, the subject will be taken up, and instructions issued embody- ing fully the views of the Department; but until then, no action will be had." They appointed the agent more than a year ago. He has received his salary, but has never been in the Indian nation. There have been repeated forrays, two battles fought in the country, one against double odds, in which more Indians were killed in battle than ever have been killed-by all the regular troops, notwithstand- ing the $30,000,000 that have been expended to support them in Texas. Sir, you want to economize, and you talk of economy and retrenchment in your financial system; repeal the bill creating the four regiments of regulars, and you will save $5,500,000 a year. A friend tells me that he will make an effort to repeal it at the next session, and I say to him, God speed his effort. I know it is the interest of some to assail the system of reserve Indians, as conducted by the superintending agent in Texas, after all his laborious services for years. No money has been so wisely and profitably applied to the objects of civilization, or to the protection of the community, as the amount of money that has been expended for the Indian reservation there. I am willing to rebuke that agent for what he has done out of fashion and improperly. Sir, he has been guilty of one heinous outrage, for which he ought to be held amenable to the State. I am willing to arraign and try
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