3. CADDOES MAKE PEACE WITH TEXAS
When Houston became president in 1841, most of the Caddoes and associated bands had retired east of the Red River whence they sent war parties to ravage and plunder the frontiers. He sent commissioners to that region for the purpose of establishing amicable relations with any and all Indians on the frontier s of Texas. An indication that the time was ripe for negotiations is shown by a letter written to the Caddo Chief, Red Bear, by the Muskogee chief, on July 20, 1842. He advised the Caddoes to be friendly with the whites, and to prevail upon their neighbors to cease hostility against the Texans. Red Bear wrote to R. M. Jones at Boggy Depot, Texas, inquiring about the possibility of making peace with the government of Texas. Jones informed him that Houston had already appointed commissioners for that purpose:
The Government of Texas by her commissioners propose to meet you and such other tribes as shall wish, and make a permanent peace, and will allow the Red men to return to their old Hunting Grounds in Texas, and will appoint agents for their different tribes to watch over their interest and will establish trading houses convenient to their Hunting Grounds where they can barter their skins for clothing and other articles of comfort that they may need.
Jones notified the commissioners that the Caddoes were anxious to make peace with Texas. Arrangements were made to meet the chiefs, head men, and warriors of four different tribes at the Caddo village above the Chickasaw nation. On August 26, 1842, a treaty was made with the Indians. The four tribes present at this council promised to visit the hostile tribes and to persuade these to meet the President and the commissioners on October 26, 1842, at Waco village on the Brazos.
The commissioners attended, but for some reason the Indians were unable to attend. Houston believed that the high waters, the inclemency of the weather, and the buffalo ranging further south than usual explained the failure of the Indians to appear at the appointed council grounds. Houston said, "If a treaty is once concluded, and good faith maintained on the part of the people of Texas, there can be no doubt that friendly relations will be maintained with the Indians." Finally arrangements were made to hold a council at Tawakano Creek in the latter part of March, 1843. The commissioners representing Texas were G. W. Terrell, J. S. Black, T. J. Smith, with T. Bryson as secretary, P. M. Butler representing the United States, with Burgenille as secretary. The Indian tribes represented were the Delawares, Caddoes, Wacos, Shawnees, Ionies, Anadako, Tawakano, Wichitas, and Kichai. On March 31, 1843, an agreement was signed by the different parties to hold a grand council at a date and place to be arranged and agreed upon later. Its purpose should be to conclude a definite and permanent treaty of peace, and friendship between the Re public of Texas and the Indian tribes residing within or near its limits. In the meantime all hostilities, and depredations of every kind should cease. Those Indians who desired were allowed to trade at the trading house on the Brazos River and to plant corn north of the trading house until a permanent line was established between Texas and the Indians. If a treaty were concluded at the Grand Council both parties were to give up all prisoners with out ransom.
In September, the Grand Council convened at Bird's Fort on the Trinity River, where a treaty of far reaching importance was concluded between the Republic of Texas and the Caddoes and associated tribes. Both parties agreed that they would forever live in peace and friendship, and that the President should make such arrangements and regulations with the several tribes of Indians as he might think best for their peace and happiness.
This treaty was approved by the Senate, January 31, 1844, and signed by Houston, February 3, 1844.
In March 1844, the Caddoes and other tribes that had signed the Bird's Fort treaty visited President Houston at Washington. He made them a talk, gave them presents, and assured them of the friendship of the republic. The Indians promised to serve as ambassadors of peace to induce the Comanches and other wild tribes who had not signed the treaty to attend the council arranged to meet in April. The friendly tribes were not able to get the Comanches to the council until October. This council was held on the clear fork of the Brazos beginning October 7, and resulted in the formation of a treaty which was concluded October 9. There were representatives from the Comanches, Cherokees, Delawares, Kichais, Wacos, Towakanos, Caddo, Ionies, Lipan, Anadakos, and Shawnees present at the meeting. The Texan commissioners were J. C. Neill, Thomas S. Smith, and E. Morehouse. Sam Houston, president of the Republic, and G. W. Terrell, attorney general, also attended the council. The treaty was similar to that concluded at Bird's Fort, September 29, 1844.
Both parties agreed that they would forever live in peace, and always meet as friends and brothers; that the government of Texas should permit no bad men to cross the line into the hunting grounds of the Indians; that the Indians should make no treaty with any nation at war with Texas; that they should not steal horses or other property from the whites; that they should not trade with any other people than the Texans so long as they could get such goods as they needed at the trading houses. It was further agreed that the government of Texas should establish trading houses for the benefit of the Indians, and such articles as they needed for their support and comfort should be kept for the Indian trade; that no whiskey or other intoxicating liquor should be sold to the Indians; that the President should send among them schoolmasters and families for the purpose of instructing them in the knowledge of the English language, and Christian religion, as well as other persons to teach them how to cultivate the soil.
This treaty was ratified by the Senate, January 24, 1845, and signed by the President, February 5.
The peace agreements brought about a cessation of hostilities between the settlers and the Caddoes to a great extent but the Indians continued to suffer from natural causes such as famine and disease.