Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 11.djvu/32

18 the State. The sub-committee visited the governor in the executive office. They advised him of the objects of their mission, and to prevent misunderstanding between him and the committee of public safety, and that the latter would not attempt the exercise of any powers that properly belonged to him as the executive of the State. He expressed his gratification at our visit and the assurance which we gave him. We then expressed to him the certainty, in our opinion, of the ordinance of secession being ratified by the people. We then suggested to him the propriety of securing the Federal property and arms in the State in anticipation of that event. He said it should be done by all means; that it should be done with promptness and prudently; that he had understood that unauthorized men had contemplated taking the property, and had therefore advised General Twiggs, and asked of the general the conditions upon which the arms, etc., would be surrendered to the State ; that he had received an answer from the general which he would furnish as soon as his private secretary should come in, which he subsequently did. He said the property should be taken in the name of the State, inventory be made, and everything be faith fully preserved, and suggested the propriety of removing the artillery and property pertaining thereto higher up the river; that prudent men should have charge of the expedition; that the disbursing officers should be responsible men, and should give bond, etc. Upon a question by General Rogers he stated that Cortinas might make another raid, and that the forces sent to the Rio Grande should be sufficient to repel him. It was agreed between the governor and the committee that he could not perform those duties while Texas remained in the Union and his oath to support the Constitution of the United States remained binding on him. The governor further stated that secrecy was of the first importance in our contemplated movements on the Rio Grande. In conversation he said he had heard that it had been charged upon him that he had sent a special messenger to General Twiggs in order to get arms to turn against the State convention ; that it was untrue, and he never would be instrumental in the shedding of fraternal blood.