WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
476
The immediate interposition of the Federal arm is besought. I have used all necessary caution and prudence and may now act upon the facts before me. Unless prompt measures are adopted by the Federal Government circumstances will impell a course on the part of Texas, which she desires to avoid. Texas cannot be invaded with impunity. If thrown upon her own resources she may not only resist but adopt means to prevent a recurrence of the outrage. A reply is respectfully asked, stating the determination of the Department. I would request that this Despatch be submitted to his Excellency, President Buchanan. The report of the Com- missioners will be sent by mail. Sam Houston. 1Executive Reco1·ds, 1859-1861, pp. 46-47, Texas State Library; The T1·ue Issue, March 16, 1860; The National Intelligencer, March 20, 1860. The newspaper sources listed here print Floyd's answer. 2 For the official account of this trouble on the Rio Grande, see Heintzel- man's report to General Robert E. Lee, March 1, 1860, in House Execu- tive Document No. 81, Thirty-sixth Congress, 1st Sess., pp. 2-14; see also the Southwestern Historical Qua1·terly, XXIII, 104-111. To WHITE, WALKER, AND SALMON 1 Executive Department, Austin, Feb. 13, 1860. Sir: You will proceed at once to raise twenty men in your county for the Ranging service. They will be under the command of a first Lieutenant, two Sergeants, and two corporals. .Until other provisions are made the men will have to provide for them- selves, sending regular reports of purchases to this Department. You will be careful to see that the men are all well mounted and well armed. As soon as you have had an election of officers, Captain J. M. W. Hall will proceed to muster the men into the service and to send the rolls to this Department, when a com- mission will issue. You will see that the strictest discipline is inforced and be sure that the men will be constantly on duty, energy and activity being necessary to the effectual protection of the frontier inhabitants. You will not permit more than one man to be absent from your command at any one time. Sam Houston. 1Executive Records, 1859-1861, p. 38, Texas State Library. These lieu- tenants were Robert M. White, D. Walker, and W. M. Salmon, but noth- ing of a biographical nature concerning them has been found, except, as
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