Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/151

Rh should be given to the authorities of Santa Fe, who could receive, betray, and then capture them. It would be difficult to avoid criticism of the President for this ill-advised and unauthorized expedition. Passing over Gen. Lamar's plans for a national bank, a national road, and a matrimonial alliance with some distinguished public functionary of Mexico, some allusion should be made to his treatment of the Indians, so strongly contrasted with the wiser and more humane policy of his predecessors. When his administration began, his first attempt was to attack the Cherokees, and drive them from their possessions between the Nuecas and Sabine Rivers, where they had been settled for a much longer time than the Texan colonists themselves. They were a peaceful, industrious, and profitable community. The arts had made some considerable progress among them, and they lived nearly as comfortable as white people. Mexico had invited them from the United States. Great inducements had been held out, and land assigned to them. Quietly and inoffensively pursuing their avocations, they had settled on these lands. By solemn assurance, a consultation in 1835 had guaranteed to this tribe undisturbed possession of their territory. Each member of the consultation had signed the solemn assurance. Recognizing the same rights and guarantee, Houston and other commissioners had subsequently made a treaty with the tribe. The consultation ratified this treaty, and its validity was recognized by every form of authority known to bind Indians and white people. While hostilities existed between Mexico and Texas, Houston and Rusk prevented them from aiding the enemy. Having made great advances in civilization during Houston's administration, they regarded "Texans" as friends, and Sam Houston as their "father."

Upon such a people, called "Houston's pet Indians," President Lamar commenced a war of extermination, with a force of 700 men, part of whom had fought at San Jacinto. Of course, he carried ruin to the homes of the poor red man, as his force was five times superior to theirs. In consequence of this treatment of the Cherokees and other tribes, scenes of rapine and murder spread from the Red River to the Rio Grande. It was vain, then, to expect frontier protection from the President's two regiments of regulars on the field. Such a policy toward the Indians could not have operated otherwise than disastrously.

The course pursued amid the disorders which prevailed in Yucatan, was no less derogatory to the good character of the new Republic. Yucatan, an integral part of Mexico, without proclaiming revolt or independence, sent a Minister to President Lamar, for the purpose of forming a treaty of alliance. Without concurrence of the Senate, or ratification of the treaty, the President ordered the