Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/360

 your good actions, and they are many. Your actions are like the sun — they do not change. My heart is glad, and I hope your path will be sunshine.

I hope to see you, with Luis Sanchez, soon. Col. Eldredge will see that you come in peace and are happy.

Your brother,




 * —— Your talk has reached me through the young chiefs that I sent to see you and talk to you about peace. My ears were opened and my heart was very glad. Your words are laid up in my remembrance. I was happy to hear that the little prisoners I sent you arrived safely, and were restored to their family and friends. We have several more which we wish to send home.

My young chiefs were well treated and protected from harm. This was right: it was the conduct of a good friend. Our fires now burn far from each other; but I hope to shake you by the hand and thank you for all this. We are all brothers; the same blood flows in our veins. Let us all, then, be friends. Let us meet and shake hands in the prairies, at the council, and at the trading-houses. Chiefs should love peace, for war brings death and distress upon the people. The warrior is no more seen around the council-fire, and the women and children weep in sorrow. Peace will make all happy; and plenty will fill the tent of every family. The buffalo can be hunted without fear, and the hunter return to his home laden with the fruits of the chase. Peace will enable our traders to sell you whatever you want and buy whatever you have to sell. In the midst of your hunting-grounds you can find goods: and you will not have to go so far as heretofore for what you buy, or to dispose of what you have to sell. At a convenient distance you can find traders who will purchase your mules and your horses, your silver and your gold, your skins, and all things else you have to sell. When we know you are our friends, and a permanent treaty is made, we will sell your people powder, lead, tomahawks, guns, spears, and knives, so that they may hunt and kill game and live happily. Friends only sell these things to each other. When the path between us is made smooth, and all harm to each other moved far away, then we shall know each other to be friends and not enemies. When peace is made you may come to me. and no one shall harm you. Others of my red brothers have come to see me and shake me by the hand, and have returned safely.! The Comanche chiefs came and made a treaty with me at Houston and received presents, and returned to their people without harm. Bad men went amongst you, and brought upon the white and the red men great trouble. But they are no longer heard in our councils. They have no more any power to do harm. The people have put them aside. They were bad men.