The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 24, July 1920 - April, 1921 Page: 46
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The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
tenant Miles and eight men.19 That was the most serious attempt
to chastise the Indians during the year.
In spite of the constant reports of Indian attacks on defence-
less settlers, Houston showed by his message to Congress, November
21, 1837, that he still considered conciliation the best policy to pur-
sue. It was of interest to the country, he said, that the relations
with the Indians be placed upon a basis of lasting peace and
friendship. Convinced of that truth, it had been his policy to seek
every possible means to accomplish that object, and give security
to the frontier; and he considered the indications more favorable
than they had been at any time before Texas assumed that atti-
tude. "Measures are in progress with the several tribes," he con-
tinued,
which with the aid of suitable appropriations by Congress, may
enable us to attain the objects of peace and friendly intercourse.
Apprised of these facts, it is desirable that the citizens of Texas
should so deport themselves, as to become the aggressors in no
case, but to evince a conciliatory disposition whenever it can be
done consistently with justice and humanity. . . . The un-
deviating opinion of the Executive has been, that from the estab-
lishment of trading houses on the frontier (under prudent regu-
lations), and the appointment of capable and honest agents, the
happiest results might be anticipated for the country. The in-
tercourse between the citizens and Indians should be regulated by
acts of Congress which experience will readily suggest.?0
In carrying out this policy he insisted on the ratification by the
Senate of the treaty drawn up with the Cherokees in 1836, and
the running of the boundary line under that treaty."~ He advised
the settlers to stay at home and not tempt the Indians to hostile
attacks; and it was charged by a newspaper in the heat of a polit-
ical campaign in 1841, that when a committee of men from Rob-
ertson and IM ilam Counties asked for protection for the frontier,
he answered that "he hoped every man, woman and child that
settled North of the San Antonio Road would be tomahawked.e2
The year 1838 was not different from the preceding year. A
committee on October 12, 1837, had reported that several of the
tribes of Indians were at peace, and advised the President to at-
'Telegraph and Texas Register, December 23, 1837.
"Crane, Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston, 292.
"1Secret Journals, 35, 36, 37.
"2Telegraph and Texas Register, August 25, 1841.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 24, July 1920 - April, 1921, periodical, 1921; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101078/m1/52/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.