The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-12
tn. Indian Tribe. ON tn. r.... Frontier

Among the dispatches recently received at the
Department of the Interior is the memorandum Of
conversation between WILDCAT, or CoAcoo-
CHE, and ColOnels CooPER and TEMPLE, at
Eagle Pass, Texas, on the 9th of March, 1885,. .
CoAcoocHE, it appears, spoke first, and ex-
pressed great joy at meeting Colonel CooPER,
his old friend. He said it made him feel like
he was again in Florida, surrounded by his
warriors and his friends General WORTH, Colo
mel COOPER, and Major SPRAGuE and that
Colonel CooPER and himself had reason to
thank the Great Spirit for sparing them in
health when so many of their brothers had
fallen around them. A great load had pressed
him down. and he had been troubled in spirit !;
but since he had seen his friend it had been re-
moved, and he felt happy once more. He
then remarked that the Americans were
his friends, and that the Mexicans also
were his friends, and that he wished to
live in peace with both, and remain the
friend of both; that he had made peace with
his great father, the PRESIDENT; that they had
smoked the pipe of peace, and the white smoke
had gone up to the Great Spirit as witness of
their sincerity; that they buried the Ratchet in
the earth, and no one was to dig it up; that they
had raked up the blood in the war-path, and
swept it clean, so that both might travel it to-
gether in peace as brothers.; that his great ia
ther had given him land in Arkansas as home
and burying ground for him and his people,
on which they might hunt and raise corn, and
live in peace with their brothers-the whites
But he said the Creek Indians had come upon
his land, and tried to involve him in difficulties;
had stolen from him his negroes; and, to avoid
war, he had left that place and started to search
for new home in Texas; that he twice tried
to go to San Antonio to see his oldest friend,
General BROOKE, but he was forced back by
our troops each time; that he wandered on
in search of home, until he reached Mex
leo, where he had remained until this time
He said he was not settled in Mexico; that he
had no home, but lived in tent, and was only
staying there with part Of his people to hunt
until he could get home where he could spend
his days in peace. He said he had seen enough
Of war; that he wished to spend his old age in
peace with the whites, and in taking care of his
children and people. He said he wished to see
had wished to go to San Antonio to see the gen
eral in command, but the liberty had been de-
MED to him; that he wished a home in Texas,
and that when he found it all his people in Ar
kansas would follow him. He said that the
Indian Agent for the Creeks had taken the part
of that tribe against him, and had treated him
badly; that he could not return to his home, or
hold any communication with his people, on ac-
count of the Comanches on the one hand, and
the United States troops on the other; and that
the Creeks in the mean time had stolen all his
negroes and other property which he left be-
hind him.
This chief was answered by Colonel COOPER,
who told him, among other things, that it was
believed by many persons that he was restless,
and could not remain contented for any length
of time in one place, and that that was thought
to be the real cause Of his leaving his home;
and he wished to know truly whether what he
(CoAcoocHE) had stated was the only cause
of his leaving; to which he answered, firmly
and decidedly, that it was The Colonel also
said to him that all the land in Texas belonged to
the people Of this State that the PRESIDENT
did not own any of it, and that he could not
give him a home here, unless he could pur-
chase it from Texas. The Colonel again re-
marked that he was glad to see him; that he
was his friend; that he had confidence in him,
and that he would do all he could to make him
happy.
CoAcoocHE said that the talk was good.
Colonel TEMPLE then informed the Chief
that the PRESIDENT had sent him to talk with
all the Indians on the frontier; that he was
very happy to see so great warrior; that he
had heard of him since he (the ColoneD was a
boy, and had for long time wanted to see him,
and had come all the way from San Antonio
for that purposes that the PRESIDENT had sent
hun, in conjunction with two brother Commits
sioners, out into this country, to have friendly
talk with all the Indians, but that his brothers
were now in San Antonio; that he had heard Of