357
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
comm1ss10ners, in the absence of John Cameron, Esquire, one of the commissioners named in the above mentioned instrument, most respectfully report: After that sufficient notice being given to the different tribes named in the commission, a treaty 2 was held at the house of John ---, one of the tribe of Cherokee Indians. The commissioners would also suggest to your Excellency that titles should be granted to such actual settlers as are now within the designated boundaries, and that they should receive a fair remuneration for their improvements and the expenses attendant upon the exchange, in lands or other equivalent. It will also be remembered by your Excellency that the sur- render by the government of the lands to which the Indians may have had any claims is nearly equivalent to that portion now allotted to them, and most respectfully suggest that they should be especially appropriated for the use of the government. They also respectfully call your attention to the following remarks, viz : The state of excitement in which the Indians were first found by your commissioners rendered it impossible to commence a negotiation with them on the day set apart for it. On the day succeeding the treaty was opened. Some difficulty then occurred relative to the exchange of lands, which the commissioners pro- posed making for those now occupied by them, which was promptly rejected. The boundaries were those established as designated in the treaty alone, and that such measures should be adopted by your Excellency for their security as may be deemed necessary. ·The commissioners used every exertion to retain that poi:tion of the territory for the use of the government, but an adherence to this would have had but one effect, viz: that of defeating the treaty altogether. Under these circumstances the arrangement was made as now reported in the accompanying treaty. They would also suggest the importance of the salt works to the government and the necessity that they should be kept for its use. The commissioners also endeavored to enlist the chiefs of the different tribes in the cause of the people of Texas and suggested an enrollment of a force from them to act against our common enemy. In reply to which they informed us that the subject had
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