Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/628

 upon the Rio Grande, the Executive could but act upon the fact of their existence; and accordingly on the 28th of December I issued a proclamation, which was printed in the English and Spanish languages, for circulation in that region; and a copy of the same is herewith submitted. This course is not only justified by precedent, but it is founded upon the principles of justice and humanity. Without assuming to know the origin of the disorders, it warns the offenders against the law of consequences of further rebellion, and exhorts a return to duty. If productive of the desired end, the saving of blood and treasure which would accrue would be considerations which should far outweigh the promptings of revenge, or the appeals of hostility against a race already degenerate from oppression. If such means fail, the law must be vindicated, and the offenders taught subordination by force.

The first official information received by the Executive from the seat of these disorders was the communication of Capt. W. G. Tobine, herewith submitted, bearing date at Ramireno, near Brownsville, December 16, 1859, and received by hands of Capt. A. C. Hill. I was gratified to learn from that dispatch that the Federal Government had interposed to restore order in that region, and that Major Hientzleman, an officer of discretion and valor, had assumed the control of military operations. Whatever complaints may be made against the Federal Government on account of the removal of the troops from that portion of our border, its promptitude in affording relief at this time is deserving of consideration. Satisfied from the report of Capt. Tobin that a sufficient force was on the spot to quell the disturbance, and that the Federal arm would be still further extended at the call of its officer commanding the troops there, I dispatched Capt. Hill with an escort of twenty men, with instructions to Major John S. Ford, acting as commander of the Texas forces, by virtue of an order from my predecessor. In that communication I stated that, "as the management of military operations has been assigned by the Federal Government to its officers, if troops are desired from Texas, it is proper that a requisition should be made by an officer of the Federal Government in command of the United States forces at that station." Should such a requisition be made, I am satisfied that citizen soldiery of the country will respond with alacrity to the call. On the loth of January the report of Major John S. Ford was received, dated at Ringgold barracks, December 29, 1859, giving an account of the engagement at Rio Grande City, in which the followers of Cortinas were completely routed and dispersed. The entire forces on this occasion were under the command of Major Hientzleman, to whom great credit is given for the disposition made of the troops. Our rangers behaved on this occasion, as on the former occasion, with that bravery which is a part of the Texan character, and the Federal troops likewise acted with great gallantry. So signal was the rout of the opposing forces that I think their uniting again is improbable. The report of Major Ford is herewith submitted.

On the 11th inst. I received dispatches from Major Wm. G. Tobin, dated Ringgold barracks, January 3d, 1860, showing the organization of the Texas forces, and the result of the elections held accordingly; also a letter from Major Hientzleman, in reply to Major Tobin, in which it is shown that in the opinion of that officer the forces of Cortinas "entirely dispersed," and that a force of the United States troops were on the march. All of these documents are respectfully submitted.