241
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1861
now to know that the first who have received the undoubted evi- dences of the determination and the ability of the troops sent forward by him to defend them, are those who have been foremost in their efforts to thwart his endeavors. Finding that it was impossible to purchase any adequate amount of supplies on the credit of the State, the Executive, in two communications dated the 8th of November and the 7th of January, suggested to the State Treasurer the propriety of using, for purposes of frontier defense, the amount in the Treasury on account of University land sales; but the opinion of that officer was adverse to the proposition, and that fund, amounting to $34,708.14, still remains in the Treasury. The Executive, believing that the Legislature would not repu- diate a pledge made under such circumstances, procured of Mr. S. M. Swenson two months' supply of rations, with a guar- antee that the same should be paid as soon as your honorable body met. This supply will be exhausted by the time more can be sent forward, and to your earnest consideration the matter is commended. It will be seen, from the plain statement of facts given above, that from the time of his inauguration up to the present time, the Executive has devoted all the energies at his command to the defense of the frontier. He has called into service a number of the most experienced ranging officers in the State, and given them troops obtained in counties capable of furnishing the best Indian fighters in the world. Not only in the number, but in the equip- ment of the troops, the means he has adopted for frontier defense have been adequate to more than the reasonable expectations of the country. Besides these, he has provided every county with a minute company for its own defense, formed of its own citizens. If these endeavors have not sufficed to protect the country, no exertions which he could have made would have done so. In March last the Executive tendered to the Secretary of War of the United States 5,000 Texan volunteers to aid in the defense of the frontier. The offer was declined. Efforts have been made to induce Congress to pass a bill authorizing the calling of such a force into the field; but they have been, thus far, unsuccessful. The Federal Government has, however, from time to time sent reinforcements of the regular army to Texas, until the entire force on our border comprises about one-fifth of our entire army. These prevent the invasion of our soil by any numerous body of Indians, and occasionally intercept small stealing parties; but
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