281
WRITINGS OF SA!\'{ HOUSTON, 1861
forays on government forts when the claims of comm1ss1oners with their host of little officials are paid, and the whole cost of their warlike adventures are met, it will be found that Texas has paid dearly. At least half a million of dollars will be wrung from the pockets of the people, to meet the expense which this Con- vention has created. The property it has acquired will be claimed by the Confederate States, while the value of the same will be placed as an offset against the amount due Texas by the United States. Had the Legislature been left free to act upon the question of secession, the people would have declared their determination, as to their remaining connected with the United States, by their vote at the ballot box. It was through the act of the Legislature that they did so vote. In the meantime the Legislatur.e would have provided for a Convention of the people, to consider the position Texas should occupy after secession. And all this could have been legitimately accomplished without any violence to the Constitution, or to law and order. Provision, in the mean- time, could not have been made by the Legislature for the raising of troops on the frontier, and when arrangements were made for their departure, an adequate force would have remained. Had this been done, the lives of those who have been murdered through the reckless intervention of this Committee of Safety, would have been spared. Peace would now reign on the border, and instead of flying before the merciless savage, the settlers would be engaged in their usual vocations. The Executive desired to avert these consequences. He determined alike to avert con- flict between our citizens and the United States troops, and to ensure their removal without exposing the frontier to danger. The following correspondence will show that prior to the meet- ing of this Convention, he had taken steps to accomplish this purpose: Executive Department, Austin, Texas, January 20, 1861. Maj. Ge1i. D. E. Twiggs, Commanding Dept. of Texas. My Dear General:- The present pressure of important events necessarily induces prompt action on the part of the public func- , tionaries. In this view of matters, I send to you Gen. J. M. Smith, of this State, on a confidential mission to know what, in the present crisis you consider your duty to do, as to maintaining in behalf of the Federal Government, or passing over to the State the possession
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