WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184,2
72
To L. B. FRANKsi Executive Department, City of Austin, February l5t, 1842. To Col. L. B. Franks, Sir, You are hereby appointed to take charge of the Lipan and Tancahua tribes of Indians and you will attend to the main- tenance of peace between them and the citizens of the Republic. You will remain with them in person as much as may be in your power. You will ascertain, so far as you may deem prudent, or bene-. ficial to our frontier safety, the disposition and wishes of the various tribes of Indians towards a peace with us ; as well as the causes which have occasioned and continue to stimulate their hostility to the Texians. When you can obtain any information which you regard as important to be known, you will report the same to the Executive, with the least possible delay. You will remain with the Indians as much as possible, or have some other person with them.-Whenever they may remove from one sec- tion of the country to another, you will, whenever you can, ad- vise the citizens on the frontier of the fact-and in all cases, some white man in whom you can have confidence, must accom- pany them.- Stimulate them to guard against and watch those Indians, who are in the habit of annoying our frontier settle- ments by murdering men and stealing horses.- If the friendly Indians succeed in breaking up those piratical parties, I will re- ward the braves with handsome presents.- If they take any horses belonging to the whites, and restore them to the owners, I will reward them for their bravery and :fidelity.- You will act in all things, so as to render all possible protection and benefit to the frontier inhabitants of Texas, and to secure peace and safety to the Indians. As we have prisoners now in the possession of the hostile In- dians, you will, if possible, procure their restoration, and advise me of any plan which may suggest itself to you for the accom- plishment of an object so desirable to humanity. You will receive as compensation for your services, the sum of five hundred dollars, and Mr. Joseph Taylor will receive two hundred and forty dollars. You will report to the President as often as possible. In his absence you will report to the Secretary of War. Sam Houston [Rubric]. 1 "Houston's Private Executive Record Book," p. 26, courtesy of Mr. Frank- lin Williams, Houston, Texas.
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