WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1837-1841
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Claims, and a guarantee that their rights would not be infringed, but that they should be protected according to what they under- stood to be their just rights, which assurance will be found in the accompanying documents, No. 1. The Indians satisfied with this guarantee, remained tranquil and happy under its influence, although the convulsions of our country, held out strong inducements to them, to take part in the revolution, and uniting with the Mexicans against the Texians, must have turned the scale and overwhelmed all the fond expecta- tions of the Texian patriots. Nor were they without provocation, to have taken an active and decided part in the contest. Their villages had been surveyed in by speculators, who had given the lie to the assurance of the Ayuntamiento, leaving the Indians but one of two alternatives to choose in their belief, either that the Texians could not redeem the pledges given, or that they were acting toward them with duplicity and perfidy. Still they remained friendly to the Whites, and in the midst of universal panic and consternation, and the flight of the inhab- itants, the defenceless and wretched situation of our women and children, instead of taking advantage of the opportunities afforded of massacre and destruction, they received them as friends, and treated them with kindness and aided them with all the facilities they could command, to a place of security. As an evidence that the Mexican Government, as late as the 12th day of May, 1835, by a law of the State of Coahuila and Texas, considered that rights had accrued to all those civilized bands of Indians settled in Texas, the Honorable Senate is referred to document, No. 2, which is an extract furnished by an honorable member of Congress. In the same year, we find in general consultation of all Texas, that similar views were entertained by that body, and that every solemnity was given to the expression of their unanimous opinion, and in the most solemn manner pledged the public faith for the redemption of the guarantee then gratuitously given. A copy of that document is herewith sent, No. 3, dated November, 1836. In conformity with that instrument the General Council, on the 22nd December following, passed a Resolution, approved the 28th of the same month, by the Governor, marked No. 4, appoint- ing commissioners to hold a treaty with said Indians, agreeably to the Acts of the General Consultation. The persons appointed by that decree were commissioned on the same day, as will be seen by reference to document No. 5, and on the 30th of the same month, instructions, directed to the
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