WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1858
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country that the Witchita agency should remain as it is, or should be attached t_o one immediately connected with it, which would give peace to all the entire frontier, and save millions every year to the country? [Houston's proposals were defeated.] 1congressional Globe, 1857-1858, Part 3, pp. 2983-2989. Early in the morning of June 12, 1858, the Senate brought forward the Indian Deficiency Bill-House Resolution No. 555, to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for current and contingent expenses of the Indian Department, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1858. When the bill was first read on June 9th, Houston bad offered the following amendment: "And be it fm·the1· enacted, That the Superintendent and agents within the superintendency of Texas shall be hereafter appointed and confirmed in the same manner that other superintendents and agents are appointed and confirmed; and that the Wichita agency is hereby attached to the superintendency of Texas." Almost immediately, Houston had the floor and began his speech. REMARKS CONCERNING A REGIMENT OF RANGERS FOR TEXAN FRONTIER PROTECTION, JUNE 14, 1858 1 I will make but one observation on this subject. The Indians from above us cross the boundary of Texas, and depredate on our citizens. With a proper force of rangers on our frontiers, they could not cross over, steal horses and commit depredations. Texas has remonstrated against this condition of things, and regular troops cannot prevent it. Those troops are in forts, or stations, and the Indians pass a few miles beyond them, and go into the ,_ settlements, commit their depredations and return with th~ir plunder and with their scalps. That is the situation in which we are placed. We want a regiment of rangers to pursue them, a~d try to remedy the evil. That is the object. It is necessary to our salvation.
1 Cong1·essional Globe, Part 3, 1st Sess., 35th Cong., 1857-1858, p. 3042.
AUGUST-DECEMBER, 1858
To MRS. MARY M. CARR 1
Huntsville, 5th Aug. 1858. Dear Lady, I can hardly excuse myself for not answering your letter instantly. That it was owing to your presence in Washington that obtained the pension, and served it to the heirs
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