WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
479
. , consider the contents thereof. I deplore the situation of Texas: an empty treasury; the Indian troubles unexampled for the last ten years; and the forays from Mexico on our Southern borders- all are well calculated to impress the mind of the Executive of Texas with the intricacies of the attitude which he has, in justice to his fellow-citizens and to humanity been forced to assume should not the federal arm be speedily raised, and extended in behalf of our suffering frontier. The Executive of Texas is greatly desirous to avoid any course which might raise even a question as to the propriety of his action. Notwithstanding all his moderation, and his desire to eschew an attitude unpleasant to him, he may, in a short time be required to resort to the in- defeasible right of self-defence to protect his fellow-citizens. He will, in addition to manifest forebearance, endeavor yet further to defer to the action of the federal government. But matters new and startling may arise, and he may feel that his duty is to meet the emergency in carrying his action so far as not only to repel the aggressions of Mexico, but to adopt such measures as will prevent the occurrence of similar inroads upon our frontier. Texas can and will, if appealed to, in thirty days be able to muster into the field ten thousand men, who are anxious, em- barrassed as her finances are, to make reclamation upon Mexico for all her wrongs. Can we hope for aid from the Federal Government? Sam Houston. 1 Quoted by Houston in his address to the People of Texas, March 24, 1860, Executive Reco1·ds, 1859- 1861. It is a duplicate of Houston's letter dated February 13, page 474. It is retained for good printers' reasons.
To JOHN H. CoNNER 1 Executive Department, February 16, 1860.
Captain John H. Conner, Commanding Texas Rangers Sir: Should it be necessary you will afford Mr. Swenson's' carriers any escort that the dangers of the frontier may demand. Sam Houston. 1 Executive Records, 1859-1861, p. 34, Texas State Library. 2 For sketch on Sven Magnus Swenson, see Houston to Swenson, June 4, 1860.
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