WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
480
TO XENOPHON B. SAUNDERS 1 Executive Department, February 16, 1860.
X. B. Saunders Sir, Your letter of February 14th is just to hand. In reply I have to state that the testimony on the part of the State not being sufficient to warrant a continuance, and it appearing from the records that the parties announced themselves ready for·trial, .the Executive feels constrained to withhold any action in the case. Applications from certain parties are now on file in this Depart- ment. Thine truly Sam Houston. 1 Govemo1·s' Lette1·s, 1859-1861, Texas State Library. For Xenophon Ji. Saunders, see Houston to Saunders, February 10, 1860.
To JACOB THOMPSON 1
Executive Department, Austin, February 17, 1860.
Honorable Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Interior Sir: I embrace the first opportunity afforded me since my inauguration to call your attention to the condition of the Indians upon the Texas Frontier, and to urge upon your Department the importance of ordering a treaty with those Indians and the pay- ment of annuities directly from a Texas agency. My heart bleeds as I contemplate the unfortunate condition of our settlements. Daily accounts reach me of horrible massacres committed within one hundred miles of this place; and notwith- standing I have ordered three hundred rangers into the field, they continue and may be expected to continue, though I hope less frequent. It is impossible for either the United States or Texas to so guard our frontier as to prevent small parties of Indians from coming in occasionally and making a foray upon the sparse settlements, return with their plunder and the scalps of our citizens. A war of extermination beyond our frontier would be necessary, if no other means, could be adopted to keep the tribes within bonds, which would involve ,the expenditure of millions and keep the settlements in continual danger until the bloody work was accomplished. It is neither the policy nor the desire of the government to carry on such a war. Policy and humanity alike dictate that we should have peace with the Indians. War
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