[3988) [MORFIT to FORSYTH]
Velasco, Texas, August 13, 1836.
To the Hon. John Forsyth, Secretary of State:
Sir: As far as opportunities have permitted, since my arrival in Texas, I have made inquiries upon the various subjects referred to in your leller of instructions, but am only able at this time Lo furnish the following information. The present Government is in operation, by virtue of an ordinance organizing an Executive Government ad interim, to consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary of State, Treasury, War, and Navy, passed by a convention of delegates in March last, immediately after the adoption of the constitution of the 17th of that month. The administration is to continue until a new arrangement shall be made by the approaching Congress in September, as provided under the constitu lion. I have not seen the ordinance referred to, as the original is at Columbia, and no publication of it has yet been made: my next despatch will probably contain a copy of it. The attention of the Governmen l seems to be directed at this moment almost exclusively lo the increase and discipline of the army. I am informed that the troops now in the field amount to two thousand men, under the command of General T. J. Rusk; five hundred men of this force are cavalry, under the immediate command of Brigadier General Huston, who occupies a position on the river Nueces, al or near San Patricio, on the Matamoras road. Two companies of mounted men are al San Antonio de Bexar, Lo cover that place from the incursions of the Indians. The balance of the army is encamped on the Coleto creek, between the Guadalupe de Victoria and Goliad, about fifteen miles east of the latter place. The old inhabitants, it is said, are al home, attending to their crops; but are organized, so as Lo be ready for the field at a moment's warning. Besides this number, the authorities here slate that there are about six hundred men, composed of various corps of volunteers, encamped al different points, or on the march between this place and the head-quarters of the army; all of whom can be incorporated into it at any time, if necessary. Finding that these forces were collecting in the neighborhood of the Rio del Norte, and knowing that our merchants had a large interest in the
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