WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1861
234
The Executive has acted in this matter in accordance with the law. Can the Comptroller justify his action upon the same ground? Sam Houston. 1 Financ.ial Pavers, Texas State Libary. To CLEMENT R. J oHNs 1 Executive Department, Austin, Texas, January 17, 1861. Hon. Clement R. Johns, State Comptroller Sir, The Executive desires that you will furnish this Depart- ment with a statement showing the amount paid out on appro- priations for "Frontier Protections" for the Cortinas War, for the "Civil expenditures of the Government for River and Harbor Improvements," for the support and maintenance of the "Insane, Blind, Deaf and Dumb Asylums," and upon all other appropria- tions since the incoming of the present administration. Sam Houston. 1 Financial Papers, Texas State Library. · To D. E. TwrGGs 1 Executive Department, Austin, Texas, January 20, 1861. Major General D. E. Twiggs, Commanding Department of Texas. My Dear General:-The present pressure of important events necessarily induces prompt action on the part of the public func- tionaries. With this view of matters, I send to you General J. M. Smith,2 of this State, on a confidential mission to know what, in the present crisis, you consider it your duty to do, as to main- taining in behalf of the Federal Government, or passing over to the State the possession of the forts, arsenals, and public property within this State; & if on demand for possession by the State Executive, you are authorized, or it would be conformable to your sense of duty, to place in the possession of the authorities of the State the forts, arms, munitions and property of the Federal Government, on the order of the Executive, to an officer of the State, empowered to receive and receipt for the same? This course is suggested by the fact that information has reached the Executive that an effort will be made by an unauthorized mob to take forcibly and appropriate the public stores and property to uses of their own, assuming to act on behalf of the State.
Powered by FlippingBook