221
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1860
whole people be made known in relation to the Course which it may be proper and necessary for Texas, as one of the States of the Union, to pursue, in order to maintain, if possible, her rights in the Union, as guaranteed by the Federal Constitutfon; And Whereas our frontier is now invaded by Indians, and the lives of our Citizens have been taken and their property destroyed ; And Whereas, the Treasury is without means either to defend the frontier or meet ordinary expenses of Government. Now, Therefore, I, Sam Houston, Governor of the State of Texas, for the reasons herein set forth, do hereby issue this my proclamation, Ordering the Legislature of the State of Texas to convene in extra session at the Capitol, in the City of Austin, on Monday the 21st day of January, A. D. 1861. Sam Houston. 1 Executive Records, 1859-1861, p. 159, Texas State Library; The State Gazette, December 20, 1860; The Har,-ison Flag, December 23, 1860; The Ho11,.ston Telegraph, December 24, 1860; The Texas Repttblican, January 5, 1861. Most of these newspapers published long editorials concerning . this proclamation, and Houston's intentions in making the call. i\fost of them stated that he had been unreasonably stubborn in refusing to make the call earlier, but "better late than never." The Revublican, January 5, 1861, presented a reasonable, constructive article. To LAWRENCE SULLIVAN Ross 1 Executive Department, Austin, Texas, December 19, 1860. Captain L. S. Ross, Command Texas Rangers Sir, Your letter of the 8th has been received. From the facts stated therein, as well as information gained from other sources, the Country seems to be full of Indians, and depredations, rob- beries and murders are daily on the increase. Some stop must be put to this distressing state of affairs on our frontier. With this end in view the Executive has already dispatched orders per Express to Lieutenant Barry and Lieutenant Stockton to raise a force each of twenty men to take the field at once, in cooperation with your command. Other troops will be sent for- ward as soon as they can be raised, also supplies to subsist them. Meanwhile, you will use every energy and exertion to give the inhabitants protection and security. It is the opinion of the Executive that these large bodies of Indians intend to winter in Texas, and every means must be brought to bear to expell them. It is also believed that they are of the Kickapoo tribe, a vagrant, wandering, marauding band
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