The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, July 1913 - April, 1914 Page: 158
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158 The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
death if they did not. The Cousate warned an American settler
near the head of the Sabine to move from that region, for the
Spaniards were trying to stir up all the border Indians against the
Americans."
In view of these facts Claiborne made a vigorous protest to Casa
Calvo. The latter believed that they were the exaggerated reports
of interested traders, but promised to inform the General Com-
mandant. At the same time Claiborne urged Turner to redouble
his efforts to attach the Caddoes to the American cause and em-
powered him to give rations and small trifles to them and to other
honest and well-disposed Indians. As the Caddoes were the inter-
mediaries for the Pawnees, who desired American trade, he might
regale them to the extent of two hundred dollars. The hostility
of this tribe towards the Spaniards, possibly influenced by these
measures, later caused the failure of a general council which the
Spaniards attempted to assemble.10
In reporting these conditions to Madison, Claiborne promised to
use the greatest prudence and caution in dealing with his Indian
and Spanish neighbors, but he feared trouble on account of the
unfriendly disposition of the latter. The situation became still
more complicated when Turner informed him that the Spanish
authorities had granted new privileges to the trading firm of Barr,
Murphy, and Davenport. This gave them the exclusive right to
trade with the Indians in furs and horses for a period of twelve
years. They might also settle a tract of land near the Texas coast.
Murphy was to be the commandant of this new settlement, while a
certain Ormond was to ply the trade between Nacogdoches and the
Washita and to introduce settlers from the latter place into Texas."1
With the outbreak of war between England and Spain, in Decem-
ber, 1804, Salcedo believed that a new danger threatened his com-
mand. Accordingly he ordered the Governor of Texas to use addi-
tional measures to preserve the allegiance of the Indians and to
keep intact the pretense of friendship and harmony existing be-
DTurner to Wilkinson, October. 15, 1804, Am. State Papers, For. Rel., II,
690.
'Turner to Claiborne, September 9, October 13, and November 21, 1804;
Claiborne to Madison, November 3, 1804, Claiborne Correspondence, II.
Parker, No. 7052, 7073, 7092, and 7107. .Casa Calvo to Claiborne, Novem-
ber 7, 1804. Enclosed in Parker, No. 7103.
"1Turner to Claiborne, December 8, 1804. Ibid. Parker, No. 7110.
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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/m1/162/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.