The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-14

IAe haAaA1 Tribes On tAe TUxak Frontier.
Among the despatte recently received at
the Department Of the Interior is the meinoraIl-
dun OF . conversation between Wildcat, or
Coacooche, and Colonies Cooper and Temple, ut
Eagle Pass, Texas, on The 27th of March, 1851
Coaeooche, 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, Colonel Cooper,
and Major Sprsgue; and that Colonel Cooper
and himself had reason to thank the Great Sp rit
for sparng 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 removed, and he felt happy.
once more. tie then remarked that the Ame-
rcans were his friends and that the Mexcans
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 ia
Their, the President that they had smoked the
pipe Of peace, and the white smoke had gone
up to the Great Spirit as a witness of their sin
cerity that they buried the hatchet in the earth,
and no one was to dig il up that they had raked
up the blood ia the war-path, and swept it clean,
so that both might travel it together in peace
brothers that his great father hal given him land
in Arkansas as home and buryng ground for
him and bis 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 90 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 Mexico, where he
had remained until this time He said he was
not settled in Mexico; that he had no home,
but lived in a 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 child
ren and people. He said he wished to see his
old friends on this side Of the river that he
had wished to 60 to San Antonio to see the gen.
eral in command, but the liberty had been de-
MED to him; that he wished Il home in Texas,
and that when he found it, all his people in Ar
kansas would follow him. He said that the In
dian agent for the or. eks 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 Camanchcs 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 contcnted 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 ne
(Coacooche) had stated was the only cause OF
his leaving to which he answered, Hrmy 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 owl any of it, and that he could not give
him a home here, unless he could purchase il
from Texas. The Colonel again remarked 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 boy, and had
for long time wanted to see him, and had come
that the President had sent him, in conjunction
with two brother commissioners, out into this
country, to have a friendly talk with all the In
dams, but that his brothers were now in San
Antonio that he had heard of the wisdom OF
the chief, and had confidence in his honesty and
friendship, and that lie wished to ask his opinion
about the best means of inducing the Comanches
and other tribes to cease from their depredations
and to live in peace with the whites
The chief expressed the following opinion
and communicated the facts here stated, namely
That the Camanches were numerous race, but
not brave warriors; treacherous and double
tongued, and no confidence can be placed in
them that they will make peace one day, and
steal from and kill the party with whom they
made it the next; that stea ing is part of thcii
/. nature, and that they imbbe it in their mothers
milk, as the child imbibes poison from the milk
of the mother who has eaten the poisonous root
dug out of the earth that at present they are
compelled to steal, but that they would do so il
they had an abundance of food that they are
deficient in sense and cannot, consequently, be
easily civilized, if at all 'that the Lpans are
sensible, and could be easily induced to abandon
their present practices that the Comanches
when son il born, rejoice, because, say they
he will be able to steal, and they will have
horses to ride when daughter is born, they
say they will have squaw to wait upon and
work for them He says the Comanches are
the largest tribe, and that they "spread every
where I" that the Iipans are numerous, and that
the other tribes in this State are small that the
Tonkaways are cnnnibals, but that they are tamo
lazy, and peaceable; that the Delawares are in
the way of peace, because the Comanches hate
them, and hate the whites because they are
friendly to them. He then stated the best
mode Of bringing about permanent pence. 1t
was to send the Kickapoos in the Indian coun.
try, and let them shake hands with the Co.
manches and other Wild Indians and then, for
himself and commissioners sent by the Presi.
dent, to follow on after them and get their as
sstance in making it. This the chief fortified
by arguments.
The gentlemen who have communicated this
intelligence to the Department say that the
manner of Wildcat was respectful and kind
that there was no insolence-no threats--no
nnkind reproaches, but expressions OF deep
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