WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1861
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until 4th of March, that a majority of the people had voted in favor of secession. While a portion of these delegates were rep- resenting Texas in the Congress of the Confederate States, two of them still claiming to be United States Senators, have con- tinued to represent Texas in the United States Senate, under the administration of Mr. Lincoln, an administration that the people of Texas have declared to be odious and not to be borne. Yet Texas has been exposed to obloquy and forced to occupy the ridiculous attitude before the world, of attempting to main- tain her position as one of the United States, and at the same time claim to be one of the Confederate States. It has created a Committee of Safety, a portion of whom have assumed the Executive powers of the Government, and to sup- port their Executive Authority, they have entered into negoti- ations with Federal Officers. This Committee and the commis- sioners acting under it, have caused the Federal troops to be moved from posts in the country exposed to Indian depreda- tions, and had them located with their arms and field batteries on the coast, where, if their desire is to maintain a position in the country, they can not only do so successfully, but destroy the commerce of the State. They have usurped the power to draw these troops from the frontier; but though in possession of ample stores, munitions of war and transportation, have failed to supply troops in the place of those removed. As a con- sequence, the wail of women and children is heard upon the border. Devastation and ruin has thus come upon the people, and though the Convention, with all the means in its power has been in session two weeks, no succor has been sent to a devas- tated frontier. This Committee of Safety has brought danger instead of safety. It has involved the State in an enormous expense for an army where no army was needed, and has left unprotected those who needed protection. It has exposed the State to ridicule, and has wounded the chivalry and the historic pride of the people, by sending an army of over a thousand men to attack a single post upon the Rio Grande, which has been permitted to defy them, until such time as its commander saw fit to withdraw. It has assumed to appoint agents to foreign States, and to create offices, military and civil, unknown to laws, at its will, keeping secret its proceedings. This Convention has deprived the people of a right to know its doing by holding its sessions in secret. It has appointed military officers and agents under its assumed authority. It has
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