WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184,3
184
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and 10th August, where a general council is appointed to be held, and where I feel assured unless the misconduct of our people interpose obstacles, the Comanches will be represented and we will be enabled to establish friendly relations with the Indians from the Red River to the Rio Grande. In the late council of Chiefs who attended at this place, as far as was in my power, I admonished them to abstain from war amongst themselves; and if they ever made war that they were not to pursue the savage practice of butchering, or captur- ing women and children-and that under no circumstances were they to molest any persons, or any tribe or nation, but such as bore arms. In this they all acquiesced, and gave assurances that they would abstain from all acts of wanton cruelty. This course was induced on my part by a love of justice and humanity and though Mexico has for years inculcated a different doctrine and yet endeavors to incite the Indians to the most barbarous atrocities upon our citizens, yet I discouraged the idea of their making war upon Mexico. I did not enjoin it upon them as a treaty stipulation for the reason, I believe it would only induce more zeal on the part of Mexico to encourage Indian outrages upon us. But so far as my influence could go, it has been extended and enforced upon the side of humanity. Dr. Jones upon his arrival at Galveston will be enabled to communicate to you any and everything interesting, as I assure you the Government is much disposed to lay aside the trickery diplomacy and deal frankly with our friends. Mrs. H. unites with me in very affectionate salutations to Mrs. E. and yourself, and for the restoration of your health you have our most fervent prayers and best wishes of sincere friendship. Sam Houston [Rubric] 1 "Houston's Private Executive Record Book," pp. 359-361, courtesy of Mr. Franklin Williams. :The above named source also contains Santa Anna's propositions men- tioned here, and it gives the original Spanish version as well as the translation. The translation is as follows: The undersigned being authorized by the Supreme Government of the Republic to hold a conference with Mr. James William Robinson, a Texian prisoner in the fortress of Perote, and to take into consideration his confi- dential communication, "relative to matters of the utmost importance both to Mexico and Texas," embracing various suggestions as to the method of terminating the protracted hostilities between the parties, and having paid due attention to all he has to represent on the subject, and having discussed with deliberation each and all of the points indicated in the
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