The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914 Page: 162
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The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
or even against both; but no such union was possible. Sibley repre-
sented the greater part of these Indians as having been friendly to
the French and later names a number of tribes as expressly
acknowledging French jurisdiction. Such were those living near
St. Bernard's Bay who were also equally well disposed towards their
American successors. The Spanish officials claimed a nominal sov-
ereignty over nearly all the tribes of the region, but their rule had
not made their power respected, and in some cases the Indians ter-
rorized and held in subjection the scattered settlements of the
Spaniards, rather than endured their capricious attempts to gov-
ern them. On the whole, the advantage in the struggle for Indian
allies were in favor of the greater resources and energy of the
Americans.1"
On the 23d of the following May, Dearborn expressed his gratifi-
cation at the receipt of this report, and added:
At all times use all means to conciliate the Indians generally,
and more especially such natives as might, in case of a rupture with
Spain, be useful or mischievous to us. None ought to engage your
attention so early as those who reside in the immediate vicinity of
the Bay of St. Bernard, and from your description of their present
temper and disposition, it will require no great exertion to draw
them firmly to the interests of the United States. They may be
assured that they and all other red people within the limits of the
United States will be treated with undeviating friendship as long
as they shall conduct themselves fairly and with good faith towards
the government and citizens of the United States.20
This letter, significant for its territorial claims as well as for the
Indian policy outlined, closed with the suggestion that Sibley pre-
pare the minds of those Indians in the vicinity of the Red River,
Attacapas, and Opelousas, for a proposed land survey by the
United States government. If it should be necessary to run lines
through their lands, in order to make the survey complete, they
were not to be alarmed. "Not an acre will be taken," the Secretary
affirmed, "except with payment and treaty under the auspices of
the United States and free concession on their part." At the same
"9For the report, see Annals 9th Cong., 2d Sess., 1078, et seq.
20Dearborn to Sibley, May 23, 1805. Indian Office, Letter Book B, 80.
The italics in the extract are those of the present writer. In a letter of
October 17, 1805, giving Sibley a commission as permanent agent, Dearboin
hopes that Sibley has made "a proper impression" on the Indians near
St. Bernard's Bay (Ibid., 2).162
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914, periodical, 1914; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101061/m1/166/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.