WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1859
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with him, is nothing; distance is nothing; home is everywhere where the game is in the forest. I ask the gentlemen to consider that these Indians, in expec- tation of the establishment of this reserve, will look with con- fidence to what they have been promised; but the very moment that promise is withdrawn, or falsified, they will believe that it was done through artifice, with' a design to deceive them and to practise upon their credulity; and by suspending the establish- ment of that promised reserve, you provoke war, and you will inevitably incur it. It is said, that at the next session of Con- gress new plans may be devised. Sir, no plan so good as this can be devised. I do not know who is entitled to the credit for it, but whoever he may be, I cheerfully accord to him all that is due for excellent wisdom and understanding of the Indian character. It is the very thing that will give us peace; it is the very thing that will reclaim the red man and make him a man of peace. You must place them in communities; you must show to them that the arts of peace and agriculture are the arts that insure to them personal comfort and happiness; that they keep their families around them, that they protect them from the casualties of war, and help them to avoid conflicts with the surrounding tribes. Thus, you attach the Indian to this course of life. Abandon this policy, either at this or the next session, and you jeopardize the lives of our people; adhere to it, and you will ultimately succeed in building up and establishing a system that will civilize the red man, and give peace and security to the frontiers. Without it, we shall have none-none, sir, none. [Mr. Ward, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Broderick, Mr. Gwin, speak.] Mr. Houston. I do not wish t0 continue this debate, but I would ask the chairman of the Committee on Finance who the gentleman is that made this report, and whether he was sent as a special agent for the purpose of collecting facts in order to make a report? Mr. Hunter. Yes. He was sent as a special agent, as I under- stand. He signs himself, "G. Bailey, Special Agent, Interior Department." Mr. Houston. He is a very intelligent gentleman, I know, and I have great confidence in him; bd what he says corroberates the very position that I have always taken. It strengthens it in this way: he shows that the only Indians whom he saw who were prosperous and happy in that community were protected by rancheros; they were protected, and they rendered fealty in
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