The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-10-16

convicted murderers, who should have been
hanged like other convicted murderers In
stead Of being merely confined in our
penitentiary, were being held by the
Governor for the purpose of trading with
Grant and securing the Federal patronage
of Texas, and the result has shown the en-
tire correctness Of our opinion. The ar
rangements hare been made, the bargain
consumated, and the big braves, the illus
trious Santanta and Big Tree, who in q time
Of profound peace burned slowly to death
the poor wagoners Of our friend Major War
rem, arc now free, free to repeat their deeds
of horroron our poor unprotected and un-
offending fellow-citizens of the frontier. It
is enough to make ones blood boil within
his bosom. A Texan, who in the heat of
personal quarrel unfortunately kills his op-
ponenb goes to the gallows or to the peni-
tentiary for ife-there is no pardon for
him. The Governor boasts that he intends
to preserve. order in Texas and see that its
criminals are duly punished, but when two
Indian Chiefs the pets of Grant and the
Quakers, in cold blooded malgnity commit
within the limits of Texas a crime, unri-i
vailed in its enormity, and are regular
" tried and convicted and sentenced to
be hung this honest li7VSezi5le Roman
ruler Of Texas, at first eommutes their pun
ishment to a mild confinement in the peni-
tentiaEy, and then makes them the subject
of barter with the general government, and
finally pardons and sets them freeq Shame
upon shamel After. this, howcan the Gov
ernor have the courage to show his face in
Texasl VIII he dare to make speech on
the frontier in the presence of the relations
and friends of the victims of savage cruelty
and vengeances Ought he not rather take
up his abode with the Kiowas and Co
manches, and become brother chief with
satanta and Big Trees
But there is ludicrous as well as serious
aspect to this subject as presented by this
dispatch. The friends of Governor Davis
have all the time insisted that satanta and
Big Tree would not be released, or if they
were, that the most ample security would
be given for the protection of tine frontier.
Look at the securityt They were released
'son the condition, that if the Kiowas
or any other Indians at any time hereafter
raided on. Texas, they, together with the
raiders, would be Immediately arrested %
What complete security Have they not
been liable to arrest heretofore if they could
be caught2 satanta and Big Tree were ar
rested, and what good has arisen from that9
This threat of an arrest is ludicrous in the
extreme. Who viii arrest themi The val
liant Gen. Davis himself, or will he send
after them his still more valiant Adjutant
General, with asquad of the Houston mill
tia, which did not even capture the civilized
Navasota tribe2 Who can say? But then
it is said that troops viii be posted all
along the frontier.- Have they-not been
thus posted for theilast two. or three years,
and what good have they done2 Again the
Indians, who have lately been raiding in
Texas, are to be turned over to the State au-
thorities, What if they should be, viii not
Gov. Davis set them free again, as he has the
great wagon burners2 Is that any security?
We fail to see All eaptiYes and horses
are to be returned Should they not have
been anyhow? Is that any compensation
The return of stolen horses and kidnapped
women and children. This is outrageous.
The Indians are to do these things and
then be duly credited for their return in
the way of bargain, At last comes the
most terrible of all punishment. Only
three days rations are to be given at one
time to the pets of the Quakers and the
Government. That is sumner. That is
a full protection to the bleeding frontier.
The Indians will not be able to raid and
murder on empty stomachs! Why, with
less than three days rations the Indians can
easily reach the Texas. settlements and fill
their emptiness to repletion. The whole
thing is a farce as well as a crime against
humanity The people of Texas have been
sold, and by "honost honest Iago'' Davis.
Well, eif thou best devil we cannot kin
thee"