The Writings of Sam Houston, Volume VIII

WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1860

28

TO JOHN M. COSTLEY AND AUGUSTUS FORE 1

Executive Department, Austin, April 23, 1860.

Messrs. John M. Costley & Augustus Fore Gentlemen: You will immediaely upon the presentation of this order, deliver to Mr. R. F. Luckett for the use of the Young County minute men, Ten Six-Shooters delivered to you by His Excellency Governor Runnels, March 26, 1859, whose receipt for the same will be credited on your bond. When the frontiers are bleeding at every pore from the bar- barities of the savage Indians, the Executive will not be embar- rassed in rendering that protection which is so much needed. To save, therefore, useless and unnecessary trouble, the en- forcement of this order is confided to the Chief Justice of this County. If men in defiance of the civil authority undertake to obstruct the policy of the Executive, in defending the helpless women and children of the frontier, they will find that he will exercise to the full extent of his power whatever authority is vested in him by the Constitution to enforce obedience to the laws. Sam Houston.

1 Executive Records, 1859-1861, p. 136, Texas State Library.

TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF CORYELL COUNTY 1

Executive Department, Austin, April 23, 1860.

Hon. Justice of Coryell County Sir, I have this day given to Mr. R. T. Luckett an order on John M. Costley and Augustus Fore for Ten Six-Shooters, a portion of the arms delivered to said Costley and Fore by His Excellency Governor Runnels in March, 1859. Should Mr. Luckett call on you, you will be particular to see that the Ten pistols are properly delivered to him. Mr. Costley has once refused to give them up, and should it now be necessary you will call out a posse sufficient to enforce the order. After Mr. Luckett gets the pistols ordered to be delivered to him, there will be left in the hands of Messrs. Fore and Costley Twenty rifles and ten pistols, all of which you will take posses- sion of whenever found, and hold the same subject to the order of the Executive.

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