692 



TEXAS. 



the San Pedro Springs, two miles above San 

 Antonio, to a camp designated by a proper ofii- 

 cer, where all the arms and Government prop- 

 erty were given up. 



On the 18th of May, Gov. Houston addressed 

 the people at Independence. The closing sen- 

 tence of his speech was as follows : 



"I have ever been conservative, was conser- 

 vative as long as the Union lasted, am a conser- 

 vative citizen of the Southern Confederacy, 

 and, giving to the constituted authorities of the 

 country, civil and military, and the Govern- 

 ment which a majority of the people have ap- 

 proved and acquiesced in, an honest obedience* 

 I feel that I should do less than my duty, did 

 I not press upon others the importance of re- 

 garding this the first duty of a good citizen." 



Still later in the year, near the latter part of 

 September, the ex-Governor issued a letter ex- 

 plaining his position. In this letter he says : 



" The time has been when there was a 

 powerful Union sentiment in Texas, and a wil- 

 lingness on the part of many true patriots to 

 give Mr. Lincoln a fair trial in the administration 

 of the Federal Government. There was also a 

 time when many of the best men in the coun- 

 try hoped that by an energetic demonstration 

 they might bring about a reconstruction of the 

 Government upon such principles as might 

 guarantee the rights of the South. These times 

 have passed by, while Union and reconstruc- 

 tion have become obsolete terms, or, if even 

 mentioned, it is only in reference to past 

 events. If there is any Union sentiment in 

 Texas, I am not apprised of it. 



" Mr. Lincoln and his Cabinet have usurped 

 the powers of Congress, and have waged war 

 against the sovereign States, and have thereby 

 not only absolved the States, but all the people 

 of the several States, from their allegiance to 

 his Government, the Federal Government hav- 

 ing ceased to exist by his acts of usurpation. 

 He has, through his ofiieers. suspended the writ 

 of habeas corpus, the bulwark of American 

 liberty, and proclaimed martial law in sovereign 

 States. If I am to rely on the current intelli- 

 gence of the day, he has, through his major- 

 general, Mr. John C. Fremont, proclaimed mar- 

 tial law in Missouri, and assumed the civil ad- 

 ministration of affairs in that State, thereby 

 ignoring the Constitution and setting at naught 

 the sovereignty of the people, and has, in fact. 

 with more than Yandalic malignity and Gothic 

 hate, sought to incite a servile insurrection in 

 that State. If the last feather had been want- 

 ing to break the camel's back, this act of atroc- 

 ity would have supplied it. His acts and feel- 

 ings are such as have never failed to character- 

 ize the heart of a renegade. 



"If Mr. Lincoln, as he was the aggressor, by 

 invading the soil of a sovereign State, and caus- 

 ing the blood of her sons to be shed, even in 

 tho neighborhood of the sacred remains of 

 Washington, after having become President 

 upon a sectional issue, in derogation of the 

 teaching of his farewell address, wishes to 



make reparation for the wrongs inflicted, h 

 has but one course left, and, in my opinion, 

 that course is to propose an armistice that shall 

 withdraw all the Federal troops from Virginia, 

 suspend the action of all the Federal forces in 

 all of the Southern States, the Confederate au- 

 thorities at the same time guaranteeing that 

 they will not advance their troops into any 

 territory not occupied by them until the meet- 

 ing of the Confederate and Federal Congivs-os 

 at their next session. Should this course be 

 pursued, there is little doubt but that the good 

 sense and patriotism of the two sections would 

 adopt such measures as would restore peace, 

 arrest the further destruction of human life, 

 and restore, to a great extent, the prosperity 

 of the two sections, for it cannot be imagined 

 that a vain hope of restoring the Union can 

 ever be realized. 



"The South can never reunite with the 

 North, nor can the North entertain any ration- 

 al hopes of her subjugation. The sooner war is 

 ended, the greater will be the probability of es- 

 tablishing friendly relations between the two 

 sections, and this cannot fail to promote the 

 mutual prosperity of both. Should this be dis- 

 regarded, a terrific responsibility must rest 

 upon the heads of those who either interpose 

 power or authority to prevent its consum- 

 mation. 



" Trusting that no further misapprehension 

 of my opinions and feelings may be entertained 

 by any one, I have been thus explicit, and sub- 

 mit them for what thev are worth to the 

 world." 



The State had now become a member of the 

 Confederacy, and her efforts were put forth to 

 promote the success of that cause. On the 18th 

 of June, Gov. Clark issued a proclamation for- 

 bidding all intercourse with the people of tho 

 Northern States: all existing contracts were to 

 be suspended, and all made during the war 

 would be void. He said : 



It will bo regarded as treason against the Confed- 

 erate States of America, ami asruinst the State of 

 Tcx.is. for uny citizen of said State to donate, sell, or 

 in any manner exchange any property or commodity 

 whatsoever with any citizen or citizens of either of 

 said States or Territories now at war with said Con- 

 federate States, without special permission from proper 

 authority. 



It will" also be treasonable for any citizen of Texas 

 to pay any debts now owing by him to a citizen or 

 citi/ens of either of said States or Territories, or to 

 contract with them any new debts or obligation during 

 the continuance of said war. 



The statute of limitations will cease to run. and 

 interest will not accrue during the continuance of the 

 war. 



All citizens of Northern States were warned 

 to leave Texas within twenty days. 



No hostile movement against Texas was 

 made by the Federal Government during tho 

 year, and the only hostile act which occurred 

 was at Gal vest on. (->>< G. u.vKsrox.t 



On the f>th of November the Legislature as- 

 sembled at Austin. The state of affairs is thus 

 described by a citizen : 



