President of TexasSam Houston had made it one of his top priorities to end hostilities with the Indians. On July 1, 1842, Houston appointed a commission to "treat with any and all Indians on the Frontiers of Texas."[1] The Indians were also amenable to a treaty, having lost many of their young men in wars with the whites. In August 1842, the Indians agreed to a peace council to be held at Waco on October 26. The chiefs did not appear for that council, but on March 31, 1843, the chiefs of the nine tribes agreed to a council of peace. The council and the commissioners met six months later and concluded a peace treaty on September 29, 1843.[1] The meeting was held and treaty was signed at Bird's Fort on the Trinity River at present-day Arlington, Texas.[3][4] The GPS coordinates for the original site of Bird's Fort are approximately 32°47′57″N97°04′59″W / 32.79917°N 97.08306°W / 32.79917; -97.08306 (converted from UTM).[5]
The Senate of Texas ratified the treaty on January 31, 1844. President Houston signed the treaty on February 3, 1844 in Washington, Texas.[1]
Terms of the treaty
The treaty comprised 24 articles. A summary of the articles follows.
Article I. The parties will "always live in peace" and "meet as friends and brothers. The existing state of war shall cease and never be renewed."
Article II. The parties agree that it is the "duty of warriors to protect women and children" and that they will never make war on them; only on warriors.
Article III. The Indians will never "unite with the enemies of Texas" nor make any treaty with them which would require the Indians to take part against Texas.
Article IV. If Texas is at war with anyone, an Indian chief will counsel with the President of Texas.
Article V. Texas will appoint agents to hear the complaints of the Indians, to ensure justice between the Indians and the whites, and to communicate the orders and wishes of the President to the Indians.
Article VI. No one may "go among the Indians to trade" except by the authority of the government of Texas.
Article VII. No white man may sell or provide "ardent spirits or intoxicating liquors" to the Indians.
Article VIII. No one except a licensed trader may "purchase any property of an Indian" without the authority of the government of Texas.
Article IX. If any property of the Indians is found among the whites, or any property of the whites is found among the Indians, it shall be returned to its rightful owner.
Article X. No trader may furnish any "warlike stores" to the Indians without the permission of the President of Texas.
Article XI. No one may "pass the line of trading houses" (at the border of the Indians' territory) without permission of the President, and may not reside or remain in the Indians' territory. These "trading houses" were later established at the junction of the Clear Fork and West Fort of the Trinity River in present-day Fort Worth.[6] At this river junction, the U.S. War Department established Fort Worth in 1849 as the northernmost of a system of forts for protecting the American Frontier following the end of the Mexican–American War.[7] The City of Fort Worth continues to be known as "where the West begins."[8]
Article XII. Any person who "molest[s] or attempt[s] to molest" the persons or property of the Indians while they remain peaceable, shall be punished for a felony.
Article XIII. Any white man who kills an Indian or commits an outrage against an Indian, shall be punished for a felony.
Article XIV. If an Indian kills a white person, he will be punished by death. If an Indian steals the property of a white man, he shall be punished by the tribe.
Article XV. No Indian may "cross the line" without authority and passport. No Indian may sell any property to a white man without authority.
Article XVI. If anyone "come[s] among the Indians without authority," the Indians will seize him and deliver him to the Indian agent.
Article XVII. The parties will mutually exchange prisoners, and "not be friendly" with any people or nation who will take prisoners from Texas.
Article XVIII. The President of Texas may "send among the Indians" blacksmiths and other mechanics, and schoolmasters for the purpose of instructing the Indians in English and Christianity.
Article XIX. When the President sends people among the Indians as described in Article XVIII, the Indians will "extend to them kind treatment and protect them from harm."
Article XX. The chiefs and headmen of the Indians will cause their "young men and warriors to behave themselves" in accordance with the treaty, and will punish them so as to keep the peace between "the white men and red brothers."
Article XXI. Should any difficulty or cause for war arise between Texas and the Indians, the Indians will send their complaints to the President and hear his answer before commencing hostilities; and the government of Texas will do likewise.
Article XXII. After the Indians have shown that they will keep the treaty and not make war upon the whites, the President will authorize the traders to sell arms to the Indians, and to provide gifts to the Indians.
Article XXIII. The government of Texas will have the right of working all mines that have been discovered or will be discovered on the territory of the Indians.
Article XXIV. The President will make all arrangements and regulations with the Indians as he sees fit "for their peace and happiness."
^ abcd"Bird's Fort Treaty Ratification Proclamation, 1843" [Native American Relations in Texas], Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas: Texas State Library and Archives Commission
^Nance, Joseph Milton (2010-06-15). "Republic of Texas". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). Retrieved 26 August 2017.
^"Site of Bird's Fort – Arlington ~ Marker Numer: 4732", Texas Historic Sites Atlas, Texas Historical Commission, 1980
^"Details - Site of Bird's Fort - Atlas Number 5439004731 - Atlas: Texas Historical Commission".
Garrett, Julia Kathryn. Fort Worth: a frontier triumph. Texas Christian University Press, 1999.
Webb, Walter Prescott. "The Last Treaty of the Republic of Texas." The Southwestern Historical Quarterly 25.3 (1922): 151-173.
External links
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Bird's Fort Treaty Ratification Proclamation, 1843
Bird's Fort
Mount Tabor Indian Community
January 06, 2023
treaty, bird, fort, coordinates, 79917, 08306, 79917, 08306, bird, fort, treaty, peace, treaty, between, republic, texas, some, indian, tribes, texas, oklahoma, signed, september, 1843, treaty, intended, years, hostilities, warfare, between, native, americans,. Coordinates 32 47 57 N 97 04 59 W 32 79917 N 97 08306 W 32 79917 97 08306 The Treaty of Bird s Fort or Bird s Fort Treaty was a peace treaty between the Republic of Texas and some of the Indian tribes of Texas and Oklahoma signed on September 29 1843 1 The treaty was intended to end years of hostilities and warfare between the Native Americans and the white settlers in Texas The full title of the treaty was Republic of Texas Treaty with the Indigenous Nations of the Delaware Chickasaw Waco Tawakani Keechi Caddo Anadahkah Ionie Biloxi and Cherokee The principal negotiators for the Republic of Texas were Edward H Tarrant and George W Terrell 2 Contents 1 Background 2 Terms of the treaty 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksBackground EditPresident of Texas Sam Houston had made it one of his top priorities to end hostilities with the Indians On July 1 1842 Houston appointed a commission to treat with any and all Indians on the Frontiers of Texas 1 The Indians were also amenable to a treaty having lost many of their young men in wars with the whites In August 1842 the Indians agreed to a peace council to be held at Waco on October 26 The chiefs did not appear for that council but on March 31 1843 the chiefs of the nine tribes agreed to a council of peace The council and the commissioners met six months later and concluded a peace treaty on September 29 1843 1 The meeting was held and treaty was signed at Bird s Fort on the Trinity River at present day Arlington Texas 3 4 The GPS coordinates for the original site of Bird s Fort are approximately 32 47 57 N 97 04 59 W 32 79917 N 97 08306 W 32 79917 97 08306 converted from UTM 5 The Senate of Texas ratified the treaty on January 31 1844 President Houston signed the treaty on February 3 1844 in Washington Texas 1 Terms of the treaty EditThe treaty comprised 24 articles A summary of the articles follows Article I The parties will always live in peace and meet as friends and brothers The existing state of war shall cease and never be renewed Article II The parties agree that it is the duty of warriors to protect women and children and that they will never make war on them only on warriors Article III The Indians will never unite with the enemies of Texas nor make any treaty with them which would require the Indians to take part against Texas Article IV If Texas is at war with anyone an Indian chief will counsel with the President of Texas Article V Texas will appoint agents to hear the complaints of the Indians to ensure justice between the Indians and the whites and to communicate the orders and wishes of the President to the Indians Article VI No one may go among the Indians to trade except by the authority of the government of Texas Article VII No white man may sell or provide ardent spirits or intoxicating liquors to the Indians Article VIII No one except a licensed trader may purchase any property of an Indian without the authority of the government of Texas Article IX If any property of the Indians is found among the whites or any property of the whites is found among the Indians it shall be returned to its rightful owner Article X No trader may furnish any warlike stores to the Indians without the permission of the President of Texas Article XI No one may pass the line of trading houses at the border of the Indians territory without permission of the President and may not reside or remain in the Indians territory These trading houses were later established at the junction of the Clear Fork and West Fort of the Trinity River in present day Fort Worth 6 At this river junction the U S War Department established Fort Worth in 1849 as the northernmost of a system of forts for protecting the American Frontier following the end of the Mexican American War 7 The City of Fort Worth continues to be known as where the West begins 8 Article XII Any person who molest s or attempt s to molest the persons or property of the Indians while they remain peaceable shall be punished for a felony Article XIII Any white man who kills an Indian or commits an outrage against an Indian shall be punished for a felony Article XIV If an Indian kills a white person he will be punished by death If an Indian steals the property of a white man he shall be punished by the tribe Article XV No Indian may cross the line without authority and passport No Indian may sell any property to a white man without authority Article XVI If anyone come s among the Indians without authority the Indians will seize him and deliver him to the Indian agent Article XVII The parties will mutually exchange prisoners and not be friendly with any people or nation who will take prisoners from Texas Article XVIII The President of Texas may send among the Indians blacksmiths and other mechanics and schoolmasters for the purpose of instructing the Indians in English and Christianity Article XIX When the President sends people among the Indians as described in Article XVIII the Indians will extend to them kind treatment and protect them from harm Article XX The chiefs and headmen of the Indians will cause their young men and warriors to behave themselves in accordance with the treaty and will punish them so as to keep the peace between the white men and red brothers Article XXI Should any difficulty or cause for war arise between Texas and the Indians the Indians will send their complaints to the President and hear his answer before commencing hostilities and the government of Texas will do likewise Article XXII After the Indians have shown that they will keep the treaty and not make war upon the whites the President will authorize the traders to sell arms to the Indians and to provide gifts to the Indians Article XXIII The government of Texas will have the right of working all mines that have been discovered or will be discovered on the territory of the Indians Article XXIV The President will make all arrangements and regulations with the Indians as he sees fit for their peace and happiness See also EditYowani Choctaws Treaty of Tehuacana Creek signed the following yearReferences Edit a b c d Bird s Fort Treaty Ratification Proclamation 1843 Native American Relations in Texas Texas State Library and Archives Austin Texas Texas State Library and Archives Commission Nance Joseph Milton 2010 06 15 Republic of Texas Handbook of Texas Texas State Historical Association TSHA Retrieved 26 August 2017 Site of Bird s Fort Arlington Marker Numer 4732 Texas Historic Sites Atlas Texas Historical Commission 1980 Details Site of Bird s Fort Atlas Number 5439004731 Atlas Texas Historical Commission Geographic UTM Coordinate Converter Garrett Julia Kathryn 2013 05 31 Fort Worth A Frontier Triumph ISBN 9780875655260 Frontier Forts Fort Worth Tx 2010 06 12 Further reading EditGarrett Julia Kathryn Fort Worth a frontier triumph Texas Christian University Press 1999 Webb Walter Prescott The Last Treaty of the Republic of Texas The Southwestern Historical Quarterly 25 3 1922 151 173 External links EditTexas State Library and Archives Commission Bird s Fort Treaty Ratification Proclamation 1843 Bird s Fort Mount Tabor Indian Community Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Treaty of Bird 27s Fort amp oldid 1050059347, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
