270
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1861
gomery, that he does not recognize it as a Convention of the People of Texas; since the submission of the ordinance he has had no correspondence with the Convention other than to deny its authority. His Excellency had no intimation of the proposed operations against the Forts and Arsenals upon the frontier until they had been taken in possession by the Convention. I feel at liberty to say, however, that none of the arms, munitions of war, Forts, &c., held by the United States in Texas, have come into possession of His Excellency or Officers acting under him, except the Post at Camp Cooper, which was taken possession of by Captain W. C. Dalrymple of the State Troops. The United States Cavalry, some 250 in number, were allowed to take up the line of march to San Antonio, where all the Public property, arms, &c., excepting side arms of officers, are to be delivered to competent State authority. His Excellency is informed that a number of the other military posts,· with the public property thereto belonging, have fallen into the possession of Agents of the Convention who have acted without his knowledge or sanction, and still hold the same, independent of his authority. He has learned that by the terms of the agreement made, the troops are permitted to carry off their arms, and artillery companies their field batteries. The public property lately belonging to the United States, being nearly all in the possession of the Convention, the information you desire can be obtained at its hands. I will also state that an ordinance was passed by that body on the 9th inst., declaring the title to all such property vested in the State of Texas. I take pleasure in assuring you that nothing but a sense of obligation to the people of Texas, and a desire to maintain their .rights and interests could lead His Excellency to the course in- dicated in this communication. The States that have formed the Provisional Government have his ardent wishes for their welfare and prosperity. The people of Texas are now bound to them by feeling and sympathy, no less closely than when they were all members of a common Union. Like circumstances induced with- drawal from that Union. Like peril and uncertainty are now be- fore them. No matter what the position of Texas may be, she cannot but feel that ties of no common nature bind her to those States. But however close those ties may be in feeling, there are requirements due the national pride and dignity of a people, who have just resumed their natiQnality, which do not sanction the
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