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August - taking him from the settlement, some distance from the frontier.  That they subsequently murdered the little fellow in cold blood, I believe, and shall soon know if they did.
   What is to be done?  I feel no doubt, about the course that ought to be taken, but have not the proper authority to act.
   In October last, the Secretary ordered me, in the contingency now existing, to make a formal demand for the criminals, and thereafter the vengeance of the President if such demands were not complied with.
   I propose to take a somewhat different course, and for reasons which I shall briefly assign.
   A party of the outlaws - who have no idea that I know any thing of the crime - are daily expected to visit Ft. Meyers, where they left a large quantity of deer venison on deposit, and where hay for 3 ponies is due them.
   When they com, they will be served & ironed, under my orders. I shall require them to deliver up the boy alive, and in default thereof hold them responsible ( or execute their chief criminals). 
   The Chiefs will first be required by me to come and execute the criminals at the Post & in my presence, and should they consent to do so, I shall require no further authority than I now have; but, if they decline, [[underline]] I [[/underline]] propose to execute them in presences of the Chiefs.
   I have never made nor ever will make any promise or threat, to the Seminoles unless I have authority to carry it out - and the purpose of this letter is to find out whether the govt. will sustain, or crush me, after I shall have taken the measure indicated.
   The body of the Indians desire peace anxiously, but the viccious are elated with past impunity and are adding to their numbers by the attraction of a lawless life, beyond the boundary, where their own chiefs are deterred from pursuing them lest they might bring on a war, and where they have too much reason to believe that their Great Father the President will [[underline]] only [[/underline]] threaten & talk
   The unprovoked murders of 1849 and which cost the government over 1/2 million Dollars were, in consequence of an error or mistake unpunished
   If we go thro the motions of a trial in the present case, the Army must acquit or perjure, for there is no witness to the murder unless the criminals confess.

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This mistaken policy & application of justice has nearly destroyed the lawful power of the Chiefs, who are laughed at when they threaten to report their crimes or give them up to the white Chiefs.
   To this day the Chiefs have not dared to inform me openly of the murder last August - much less offer to give up the criminals, for fear they might meet them again here or in Arkansas.
   Now, the step I propose will do justice, will intimidate the bad & sustain the good Indians, with the least possible danger to the peace. So much to be desired by the State & the Administration; and, lastly, it will [[?]] the exasperated feelings of the frontier citizens who have to feel that their red brothers are not restrained by the general government - which professes to govern them. 
   I only desire, & in confidence, the assurance of the Sec. of War, or the  govt., that after I have taken the just measures here proposed, he, or it, will sustain me - or, rather,not make a scapegoat of me to appease pseudo-philanthropists.

   I may say to you, what is notorious here, - that if any one could enforce stern justice on the Seminole without suspicion of bad feeling or mere revenge, it is your cousin.
   I have been, and am, their strong friend. I have - when ordered by the Doctors to [[?fire]] up all duty, travelled to them in rain & shine until several times prostrated, and finally when all believed they had commenced war, [[?I neut]], despite the actual protestations of citizens, traders & interpreters, unattended to them & luckily prevented a war in 1849.
   I make do Mr Conrad on the 11th in this subject, but, of course, could not, with official propriety, say many things that are material, much less ask him to take the responsibility that could be taken by me with more propriety. 
   Should some such course not be [[strikethrough]] taken [[/strikethrough]] sanctioned, I can no longer face the Indians as the representation of their  [[?]] Rather, nor continue to be called "the Agent" when I know that the outlaws will continue their crimes and force the administration into a war long before March 1853.
   Even the State of Florida threatens to commence hostilities. The measure I propose would silence the most clamorous in the Legislature.
   May I ask you to communicate confidentially with Mr. Conrad who, I feel, would order the very steps I now suggest, were he as 

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