WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1860
483
by a sense of duty to make an appeal to your power and humanity in behalf of our people. General Britton~ can inform you of our situation and you, Sir, can rely upon what he may say to your Excellency. I am appealed to almost daily for aid to protect ourselves against the Indians making constant forays on our Northern and Western borders. I have found myself compelled to order out three companies besides three detachments, making in all four companies. It is not possible from the extent of our frontier, more than a thousand miles, to give protection by physical means. A moral influence must be employed or tranquility cannot be secured. In the days of the Republic, I was able to secure peace and security to our people by means of treaties, and that peace lasted for tlu:ee years after annexation. To do this I was only allowed $10,000 to be expended as I thought proper. If your Excellency will authorize a treaty to be held with the various tribes or bands, which I can do thro Mr. S. A. Blain, Agent at Fort Arbuckle, and get them to meet me on the borders of Texas, I can make a treaty with the chiefs, that will give security to our frontiers. The millions now expended will be saved to the United States, as well as the lives and the property of our people. A treaty need not cost $15,000, and an annuity of from $12,000 to $15,000 would be the sole cost to the U[nited] S[tates]. The reason that I pr~pose that I should be thus authorized is, that the Chiefs of .the bands now making war on Texas are the same with whom I formerly made treaties, and are yet anxious to meet me again. If your Excellency should think proper to authorize the treaty to be held about the month of April or May, which would be as soon as the various tribes and bands could be gathered, say at the mouth of Big Witchita on Red River, I would be willing, though it would tax my comfort and lead to exposure. But I am willing to go in person and attend to the matter, if your Excellency should desire me to do so. And in the event that your Excellency should deem fit to adopt the measure, and order it to be done, I would suggest that Governor D. R. Porter, and General N. H. Darnell of Texas should be associated in the commission. Your Excellency will find that I have made an official ccm- munication to the Secretary of the Interior, which I hope that your Excellency will have read to you! It will afford me much pleasure to hear from the Department as soon as it may be
Powered by FlippingBook