TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
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tier, transmitted herewith, represent their distressed and haz- ardous conditions, from the hostile attitude of several Indian tribes of known skill and bravery in war. One of the most de- lightful sections of the State, for several years rapidly increas- ing in population, the most respectable and intelligent, is about to be depopulated; and without immediate military assistance must inevitably become so. The appeal for aid is made to the Executive, and would at once and most cheerfully be responded to, did he possess any power beyond that which is conferred by the 4th Section of the 6th Article of the Constitution, towit: "The Governor shall have power to call forth the militia to execute the laws of the State, to suppress insurrections and to repel invasions." It is well known to your honorable bodies that there is not in the State even a partial militia organization, and consequently the Executive is not at all aided by the power (entirely nominal under the circumstances) intended to be given by the Sections quoted. On three, or more, occasions, I have had the honor to press the subject of our frontier diffi- culties upon the attention of the representatives of the people, with the confident and anxious hope that some ability would be extended to the Executive branch of the State Government, by which, in great emergencies, he might relieve (temporarily at least) the inhabitants occupying portions of the frontier not fully protected by the troops of the United States. I again, very respectfully, but most earnestly solicit from your Honor- able Bodies such an appropriation of means as will enable me, in part at least, to save the lives and property of our people, who from fortune or necessity are occupying isolated and un- protected positions. Their appeals to your aid and sympathy, it seems to me, are irresistible, and far beyond the sordid con- sideration of dollars and cents. I might make an elaborate ap- peal to your justice and magnaminity as men and as Legisla- tors, but, I trust, the intelligence and wisdom of your Honorable Bodies renders it entirely unnecessEi.1·y. It is only needful to know that the lives of worthy men and of helpless women and children are involved· in the action you may think proper to take upon this serious and important subject. The citizens whose interest I now seek to represent are under arms. Many of the individuals, whose names are subscribed to the petitions transmitted, are known to me, and, from their sterling character, would not, I am persuaded, sound any false alarms.
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