253
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1861
in reference to certain resolutions adopted by the State of New York. In these perilous times, it is proper that the Representatives of the people of Texas should meet at the threshold every assault upon their liberties, and whether that assault comes in the form of threats, or actual invasion, it should alike be repelled. Having called you together to provide for an expression of the sovereign will of the people at the ballot box, I also deem it my duty to declare that while the freemen of Texas are deliberating upon this question, no impending threat of coercion from the people of another State should be permitted to hang over them without, at least, meeting the condemnation of our Representa- tives. Whatever that sovereign will may be when fairly expressed, it must be maintained. Texas as one man will defend it. While the Executive would not counsel foolish bravado, he deems it a duty we owe to the people to declare that even though their actio_n should bring upon us the consequences which now seem impending, we will all, be our views in the past or the present what they may, be united. Sam Houston. 1 Messages of the Govern.ors of the State of Texas; also a Broadside, Texas State Library; E. W. Winkler (ed.), Jounial of the Texas Secession Convention, 1861, 31-32; Jom-nal of the Senate, State of Texas, Eighth, Legislature (Special Session), 736-740; The True Issue, February 7, 1861; The Colorado Citizen, February 16, 1861; The Standard, February 9, 1861. 2 On pages 29-36 of the Secession Journal, and in The True Issue, February 7, 1861, may be found copies of all the various resolutions and ordinances referred to by Houston. To A COMMITTEE OF THE SECESSION CONVEN'tIONt Executive Department, Austin, Texas, January 31, 1861. To Messrs. Reag-an, 2 Gray,3 Rogers,• Stell,5 and Devine, 8 Com- mittee of the Convention : Gentlemen: The Executive has had the honor to learn at your hands, of the passage of a resolution by the Convention assem- bled, expressing a desire on the part of that body to "act in harmony. with the different departments of our State Govern- ment," upon matters touching our Federal relations. Through the action of the Legislature, a coordinate depart- ment of the Government of the State of Texas, the Executive has received official information that the Convention assembled has been recognized as possessing powers within the scope of
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