WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1844
T'o THOMAS I. SMITHl
Washington, September 17th, 1844.
To Col. Thomas I. Smith: Sir-By a communication from His Excellency, the President recently received, I am informed of his wish that you should act as one of the commissioners to treat with the Indians at the approaching council; which wish , it is the object of this note now to make known to you. It is important that you should reach the council grounds at · the earliest possible moment, as the Indians have already begun to assemble. Col. Neill will be one of your associates. He has been notified of his appointment. It is the President's desire that the commissioners should make the necessary preparations, and when ready to go into the treaty, that they should communicate the fact to him, before meeting them; when he will, if advised by the commissioners so to do, go up to the council. The commissioners will act under the instructions heretofore received. The President is expected home by the 20th instant at farthest. With much regard, your obedient servant W. D. Miller, President's Private Secretary. Sam Houston 1 Execut·ive Record Book, No. 40, p. 371; also Papers on Indian Affairs, Texas State Library. Colonel Thomas I. Smith. See Volume II, 535.
To BENJAMIN SLOAT AND STEPHEN T. SLATER 1
Washington, September 17, 1844.
To Messrs. Sloat:! and Slater!?, &c., &c., &c. Gentlemen- As His Excellency the President and the Super- intendent of Indian Affairs are both at present absent from the seat of government, and may not return for some three or four days yet, it becomes my duty to communicate to you the wishes of the President, in reference to the Indians, as indicated to me in a letter very lately received from him. You, or either of you, will please proceed with ns little delay as possible to procure the necessary supplies of corn and beef,
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