Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/330

 it would not be proper to invest the Executive with authority to enforce the collection of the same, that it may be applied to the public benefit.

While presenting subjects to the consideration of your honorable body, of vital importance to the nation, our Indian relations will be entitled to at least "secondary estimation. Soon after the commencement of the present administration the President, anxious to renew that course of policy which he was satisfied could alone give peace and security to the frontiers, availed himself of every means of information upon the subject, and from assurances of the Indians themselves, as well as officers of the United States Government employed in the Indian Department, he was satisfied that a sincere disposition toward peace was entertained by the Indians. He accordingly dispatched Commissioners to the east of Red River (whither the Indians of Texas had generally retired with their families, and from whence they sent out war parties to the frontiers of Texas) for the purpose of establishing amicable relations. They met the Indians, and entered into negotiations with them, with the ulterior arrangements to meet again on the Brazos at the Waco Village, as the Commissioners understood it, in the month of October last. The Commissioners attended, but, owing to some cause, the Indians were unable to attend. Some difficulties intervened at the time of the formation of the treaty east of the Red River. The principal ground on which it was believed the Comanches would not enter into a treaty or adventure themselves to a council arose from the circumstances attending the unfortunate affair which occurred in Bexar in the Spring of 1840, in which they lost many of their principal chiefs, after they had received a solemn invitation to come in and establish friendly relations. It was alleged that they were yet ciying for their kindred, and that the clouds of sorrow yet rested upon their nation, because their chiefs were no more, and they had not the light of their counsel to point to the path in which they should walk. Other tribes who had been friendly with the colonists of Texas, and had always been friendly and commercial with the first settlers of the country, though they had occasion to deplore many circumstances, were nevertheless anxious to return with their women to where buffalo were abundant, and where they could obtain subsistence for their families, live at peace with the citizens of Texas, and carry on trade, and maintain friendly intercourse.

The Government of the United States has indicated a willingness to guarantee peace and maintain the treaty stipulations which may be entered into on the part of the Indians, provided Texas maintains good faith on her part. That friendly relations can be established there is no doubt, and messengers are now out among the various tribes for the purpose of ascertaining the particular reasons why the chiefs of the several tribes did not meet our Commissioners at the Waco Village; and the Executive will not be remiss in the proper appliance of whatever may contribute to the achievement of our object, so truly desirable to the interests of the country. It has not been to him a matter of much astonishment that the chiefs did not attend. The season has been one of unprecedented character. The high waters, the inclemency of the weather, and the range of the buffalo being further south than is usual at this season of the year, would interpose difficulties to the attendance of the Indians that seem to be quite satisfactory for their absence. If a treaty is once concluded, and good faith maintained on the part of the people of Texas, there can be no doubt that friendly relations will be maintained with the Indians. When only a few