532
TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
No. 1203
1839 Apr. 15, L. H. M:ABBITT. ADDRESS TO THE INDE- PENDENT. VOTERS
TO THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS, COMPOSING THE MILITIA OF TEXAS.
Fellow-Citizens; Aware that by the resignation of Thomas J. Rusk, we are now without a commanding General ; and aware also, that in consequence of that resignation, you will shortly be called upon to select some individual to fill this high and responsible station. I therefore, by the kind solicitations of my friends, have been induiced to offer you my name as a candidate for the office of l\Iajor General. To those of you who know me personally; to· my companions in arms, who have at various times stood by my side fighting in defence of the rights and liberties of our beloved country, the land of our adoption; any other appeal than the annunciation just made, would be deemed wholly unnecessary. But to those of my fellow citizens with whom I have not the honor of a personal acquaintance, I am imfluenced to present briefly, through this medium, my views for their considera- tion. The l\Iajor part of my life from earliest youth to the present time, has been spent in the service of my country, both as private soldier as well as a commanding officer. I have ever flown with alac'rity to the aid and assistance of my distressed countrymen, when the cry of oppression has been heard, to sweep over the land of OU'!.' adoption. The statements I have just made are some of the claims upon which to predicate an expression of your partiality at the approaching elec- tion. Ere another anniversary of our Independence shall have rolled round, the enemy may again be upon our border, if not in the very heart of our settlements; laying waste the fairest and most beautiful portions of our country. The tomahawk of the savage is yet un- buried, and judging the future by the past, we have sufficient reason to conclude that unless a speedy and effective organization of the Militia be made, the cries of widows and orphans may yet be heard amid the 'horrid ye,lls of savage Demons, shrieking on the midnight blast, crying aloud for vengeance, wrecking the best blood of Texas. Safety then for our homes and our :firesides, together with the bril- liant examples set us by the United States of the North, dictate to us the policy that as soon as the situation of the country will permit, or as soon as means can be had supply a sufficient force, during a campaign; we should commence offensive operations· against our savage ene~ies, within the vicinity of our extensive frontier; and by teaching them. to feel, as well as know our powers; never look back until we leave them ensconsed in the heart of some wilderness coun- try, more congenial with their natural habits than the vicinity of civ- ilization; and alike productive of their comfort, as of our safety. The experience of a century has proven that treaties entered into with the savages as with enlightened nations, prove binding on their part only, as th~ first opportunity occurs for them to be violated. Force
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