312 demand the calling out of others. The happening of these contin- gencies would be productive of cost to the State and not be within the line of economy. So far as I am personally concerned I am perfectly willing to be discharged to day. You did me the honor to confer the appointment unsolicited on my part. I am grateful for it, and have done all in my power to strengthen your administration, and expect to continue my support. At the same time, however, the interests of the frontier and of the men under my command require something at my hands. It is only since our being posted at this point that the In- dians have ceased to depredate upon the citizens in this district. The abandonment of this post would, in all probability, be fol- lowed by murders and robberies. You are too well aware of the state of feeling which would exist on the frontier should these things transpire. Every mail would bring accounts of depreda- tions and petitions for protection, all of which would be detri- mental to the State and retard the settlement of the frontier. I do not conceive it would be a saving of one cent to the State to disband his company. If the statements, said to have been writ- ten to Waco by Maj. Neighbors, be true, it has already been de- termined to dismiss me from the service for not having con- sented to serve the warrant directed to me by Judge Battle. I feel conscious of having acted right, and if anything in the shape of a sacrifice of position should be demanded I shall make it most willingly. I did what I thought would promote the peace and har- mony of the frontier, and was actuated by a desire not to give the people hereabouts a cause, or even a pretext, to raise a hue and cry against you, on the grounds that you had sent me here to interfere in the transaction of civil affairs, and to act as a special constable instead of endeavoring to protect the frontier. I am convinced the result would have been prejudicial, and there was danger of a collision between the people and the Rangers. No civil officer had been called upon to execute the process. I stood ready to aid him should he call upon me and am yet ready to do so. Maj. Neighbors must be mistaken if he says I ever promised to act as the returning officer in the case. I never so understood him, and should have declined had he proposed such a thing. It was only as an assistant, should it be necessary, that I thought of acting. The warrant was directed to me as a captain in the State service, and it was entirely in a military capacity that I was to appear upon the arena as the special constable to arrest offend- ers and guard them to a distant point for trial. I am so thor-
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