The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 26, July 1922 - April, 1923 Page: 4
324 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Accompanying this you will receive Your Commission and I
hope You will make it convenient to proceed with all despatch,
to the place of operation. Your known familiarity with the pecu-
liarities of the Indian Character induces the government to in-
vest You with much discretionary power: but I must enjoin it
upon you, to avoid with great caution, entering into any Specific
treaty, relating to boundaries, that may compromit the interests
of actual Settlers. It may very plausibly and justly be repre-
sented to the Chiefs, that we are too much occupied at this time,
to negociate positive treaties-that ample justice Shall be ren-
dered to them as Soon as the foreign relations of the Country are
adjusted on a peaceable footing-and that lands adequate to their
wants will be fully granted for their exclusive use.
Menard was authorized to draw on the War Department for a
sum not exceeding two thousand dollars to be used in buying pres-
ents for the chiefs if such presents would further his mission."
The whole tenor of these instructions shows that the government
was becoming more cautious and calculating in its dealing with
the Indians. The promises of the Consultation were forgotten.
Although the Republic was being invaded by a Mexican army, and
was in constant danger of an Indian uprising, still it had begun
coolly to calculate the value of the lands claimed by the Indians.
It must, of course, be remembered that Burnet was one of the
empresarios whose grant overlapped the lands claimed by the
Cherokees. His contract had expired in December, 1835, and it
can be seen that personal consideration may have influenced his
Indian policy.
II. TIIE GAINES EPISODE
The most important Indian affair during the ad interim gov-
ernment was in eastern Texas, and resulted in the occupation of
Nacogdoches by the United States troops.o General Gaines, who
was in command of the Southwestern Division of the United
States Army, believed that this action was necessary to prevent
'Manuscript: President David G. Burnet to M. B. Menard, March 19,
1836. Indian Affairs, State Library.
'This question has been thoroughly investigated by two. historians of
today, Dr. Eugene C. Barker and Dr. Thomas M. Marshall. Dr. Barker's
article on this question is in the Mississippi Talley Historical Review, I,
3-30, and is entitled "The United States and Mexico, 1835-1837." Dr.
Marshall in his book, A History of the Western Boundary of the Louisiana
Purchase, 1819-1841, discusses the question fully in chapters VIII, IX, X.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 26, July 1922 - April, 1923, periodical, 1923; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101084/m1/10/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.