The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 47, July 1943 - April, 1944 Page: 49

Letters and Documents

Untill some Branch of the Bourbon family shall Arrive in
America, they will cultivate the friendship of the United States
by all means in their power. A very friendly Intercourse on
their part has already Commenced, the heart of the New Gov-
ernor Salcedo is entirely with us.
About Thirty Negroes from two or three plantations on Red
River about 40 Miles below this Town deserted Yesterday morn-
ing together they stole Arms, Ammunition & Horses, their
Persuers have not Returned. They went towards the River
Sabine."' Governor Salcedo Said repeatedly when here, that he
would have all Such Sent Back that might Come into his
Province after his Arrival, Unless he received from the King
an express order to the contrary.52 his Sincerity will in a few
days be put to proof
I am
With great Esteem
Your Obt Servant
John Sibley.
Genl. Henry Dearborn
LETTER 10
Natchitoches Nov. 20th 1808
Sir
The Object of this letter is to explain to you a Circumstance
which I have reason to believe has been falsely represented &
from evil Intentions.
In the Month of Augt. last when I received a friendly visit
from the Chiefs of the Hietans, Tawakenoes," Panis or Tawi-
aches." & they expressed a great desire that some traders from
5Sibley is mistaken in his belief that Salcedo's heart was with the United
States. Immediately upon crossing into Texas, he sent from Nacogdoches
to Don Nemesio an alarming message telling of the rebirth of a Burr con-
spiracy, and expressing his suspicion of the United States. Provincias
Internas, Vol. 201, pp. 285-288, B. L.
"At this time Governor Claiborne was corresponding with Spanish
officials of Texas concerning the protection given runaway slaves in Texas.
W. C. C. Claiborne, Letter Books, IV, 299, 306, 319-321, V, 388, 389.
52Don Nemesio had decreed in August, 1805, that all slaves escaping from
the United States into Texas were to be declared free. Mattie Austin
Hatcher, The Opening of Texas, 100.
5 The Spaniards called them Tahuacanes or Tuacanas. They lived in the
area between the headwaters of the Sabine and Red River. See Herbert E.
Bolton, Texas in the Middle Eighteenth Century, map; Charles Wilson
Hackett, Pichardo's Treatise, II, 230.
"5Father Pichardo, also an authority on Indian tribes of this area, said
that Sibley was in error when he said "The Panis or Towiaches, the French
call them Panis and the Spaniards Towaiches." Pichardo said the Span-
iards called them Taobayaces [Taovayas]. They lived on the south bank
of Red River, about eight hundred miles from Natchitoches, and three
hundred and forty miles by land. Ibid., II, 232.

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