-
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
525
To MIDDLETON T. J OHNSON 1 Executive ·Department, Austin, March 17, 1860.
Colonel M. T. Johnson- Sir: By virtue of your commission as Aid de Camp to the Commander in Chief and this order, you will proceed to raise a sufficient number of mounted rangers to repel, pursue and pun- ish the Indians now ravaging the northern and northwestern set- tlements of Texas. You w_ill organize such men in companies, as the service before you may require, and authorize such persons to muster them into service as you may desire. You are ·at full liberty to dispose of the force under your command at your discretion, and to call any officers command- ing Texas troops now in that service for men to aid you in the pursuit and punishment of the foe. Sam Houston. Colonel Johnson will take the field immediately and althougl the grass is not high enough to sustain horses well, he will make a determined effort to get the Indians out of the country, track them up and punish them. A treaty negotiated between the United States and Mexico, is now before the United States Senate for ratification. Upon its success much depends the existence of friendly relationships between the two countries: While this delicate state of things exists, the Executive does not desire to percipitate or compli- cate matters. If compelled to act, for the defence of Texas and to "adopt means to prevent a recurrence of the outrages," he desired the cooperation of all Texians, and the sanction of the law. He can but warn his fellow-citizens against any unau- thorized or premature movement, which can but result in great evil to those engaged in it and prevent the consummation of the end desired. An authorized expedition, governed by all the restraints of law, having for its object the overthrow of the bandits, who make hostile incursions into Texas, would be hailed with delight by a large body of the Mexican People. An unau- thorized one would but tend to strengthen those opposed to American influence in Mexico. What the Executive may do, should the United States not pursue that course, calculated to guard Texas against such out- rages as have been recently committed on the Rio Grande, his fellow-citizens, who have been with him in the perilous days
Powered by FlippingBook