I would therefore recommend the adoption of resolutions dissenting from the assertion of the abstract right of secession, and refusing to send deputies, for any present existing cause, and urging upon the people of all the States, North and South, the necessity of cultivating brotherly feeling, observing justice and attending to their own affairs.
MESSAGE TO THE LEGISLATURE OF TEXAS— EXTRA SESSION.
Executive Department,
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Austin, January 21, 1861.
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Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives:
You have been convened in extra session, in view of the unsettled condition of our national affairs, the continued invasion of our frontier by Indians, and the embarrassed condition of the Treasury. To these subjects alone your attention will be invited, and it is hoped that only those which are incident to these will meet your consideration.
The defense of the State being a paramount object, the Executive will first press the necessity of providing for the same upon your consideration. When the Executive came into office the frontier was entirely unguarded, except by Federal troops. The Indians, unrestrained by the presence of rangers, embraced the favorable opportunity, and gained a foothold in the country, and ere their presence was known and means could be adopted to repel them, commenced a series of depredations which struck terror to the settlements. Their savage work was not confined to the frontier alone, but extended to counties within fifty miles of the capital.
Although not apprised of this state of things, the Executive had made such provision for the defense of the frontier as seemed necessary. On the 26th of December, a few days after his inauguration, an order was issued to Captain W. C. Dalrymple, of Williamson County, to raise a company of sixty men, rank and file.
This was followed by orders of the same character to Captain Ed. Burleson, of Hays, and to Captain John H. Conner, of Travis, on the 4th and 13th of January. These companies were ordered to such points as would enable them to carry out the orders given them to give the greatest amount of protection to the frontier inhabitants.
Had the frontier not been entirely abandoned to the Indians for months previous to his inauguration these companies would have sufficed to prevent any concerted and extensive movement against the settlements on the part of the Indians; but they were already secreted in the country. Intelligence having reached the Executive that numerous small parties of Indians were ravaging the line of settlements beyond Bell County, but yet not on the extreme frontier, orders were issued on the 13th of February to Lieut. White of Bell, Salmon of. Basque, and Walker of Erath County, to raise each a detachment of twentyfive men to range in and give defense to the counties of Caryell, Hamilton, Comanche, Erath, Eastland, and Palo Pinto. These detachments were soon in the field, with orders to exercise every energy to give the frontier protection and security.
