The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 52, July 1948 - April, 1949 Page: 43

The First Treaty of the Republic of Texas

In addition, that section of the Republic would become desolate
from misfortunes which would not be retrieved in ten years.28
The President's determination to carry out the stipulations
of the treaty was shown clearly in communications which he ser~t
the Cherokee leaders. Referring to "some trouble" between the
Americans and the Mexicans, on August o, 1838, he wrote Big
Mush, the political chieftain, urging the Indians to stand by the
agreement to which he said he would "never lie," but instead
would "build up."24 The following day he informed the Bowl
that despite the "trouble ... going on" the boundary line would
be surveyed.25 Then on August i2, Houston sent Big Mush word
that the line would be run before "the leaves fall ... or I will
give them [the Indians] my life or my land, for I will not tell
them a lie."26
Because of the general opposition of some whites and the inci-
dents connected with the Cordova outbreak, President Houston
experienced some difficulty in having surveyed the boundary line
specified in the treaty. It was on August 3, apparently, when he
first directed that this be done.27 Then on September 30o, he
authorized the Indian agent, Charles Sims, to call on the military
and civil authorities [at Nacogdoches] for help should it become
necessary to overcome objections on the part of any white men.28
Then ten days later he ordered General Thomas J. Rusk, com-
mander of the Texas militia, to see that the work was done
immediately.29 As announced to Colonel Alexander Horton on
the same day, if the line had not been run by October 2o, neces-
sary force should be employed to complete the survey.30
Eventually, on November io, 1838, Horton reported that de-
spite much opposition he with the assistance of twenty-four whites
and sixteen Cherokees had succeeded in surveying the line from
the "Neches to [the] Angelina, thence to the first large creek
below the Shawnee village, thence up that creek to its source,
23Houston to General T. J. Rusk, October io, 1838, in ibid., 288-289.
24Houston to Big Mush, August lo, 1838, in ibid., 269-27o.
25Houston to Colonel Bowl, August 11, 1838, in ibid., 270.
2eHouston to George May, August l2, 1838, in ibid., 273.
2TIbid.
28Houston to Charles H. Sims, September 3o, 1838, in ibid., 284-285.
29Houston to Thomas J. Rusk, October 1o, 1838, in ibid., 288-289.
saHouston to Alexander Horton, October 1o, 1838, in ibid., 288.