Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/143

Rh tribes on the frontier, Houston regarded as one of the chief objects of his administration. He had studied Indian character from his boyhood. His knowledge of Indian character was almost perfect. The letter and spirit of his treaties with savage nations he regarded so rigidly inviolable, that he saved the infant Republic from the invasions of Indians, and made them venerate and love his name. His correspondence with Indian tribes, some of which may be seen in another part of this work, exhibits a mastery of the nervous thought and terse language of uncultivated minds, and an adroitness in employing Indian phraseology, indicative of high genius. Some of his Indian talks are admirable specimens of Indian ideas in English words.

He had associated with the Indians so intimately that he had attained a complete knowledge of their character. In all his negotiations with them he ever treated them on the great principles of humanity and justice. During his two administrations in Texas, he carried out his just views of intercourse with Indian tribes with entire success. He never experienced the slightest difficulty in winning their friendship, and preserving their perpetual alliance, whenever he had an opportunity of giving the Indians evidence that he intended to treat them with good faith and common justice. How his treatment of the Indians was regarded by those who generously considered it, may be comprehended from the fact, that among the relics which survive him, is a cane of wood, brought from Asia Minor, on whose head in gold, is this inscription: "John S. Tappan to Gen. Sam Houston, of Texas, the friend of the red man."

The administration of the Government in its first years was, as might have been expected, a severe trial and a grand difficulty. There was no money in the treasury, and there was no credit on which to obtain loans. An army was in the field, with no means on which it could be supported. Still new projects were planned and cherished; among them, a grand campaign against Matamoras. All who were jealous of the influence of the President joined in this scheme, so that the army now numbered 2,400 men. The commander of the army, Gen. Felix Huston, came to Houston when the Congress met, to obtain authority to carry out the project. Without money in the treasury, without fiscal means, without currency except promissory notes struck on common paper, it was clearly inadvisable and impracticable to inaugurate such a campaign. To prevent disaster to the Republic in this crisis of affairs, the President resorted to a sagacious expedient. In the absence of Gen. Felix Huston, Col. Rodgers had been left in command of the army. He had caused it to be understood that if the volunteers