The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-17
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
State Of Texas, November Is, 1850.
~

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
State Of IeraS, November Is, 1850.
10 The Honorable Senate
and House of Representatives.
GENTLEMEN: An event which was no doubt
anticipated by you at the time of your recent ad-
journment and which has since been officially
communicated to me as the Executive of the
State, has rendered it necessary fur me to as
semble you again in extraordinary session and
in greeting you once more the representa-
tives of the people, have much pleasure in con-
graduating you on the improved auspices under
which we meet for the tranquility and peace of
the State, and the amicable adjustment Of all
matters of difference which were likely to arise
with the Federal Government in respect to our
territorial limits.
On the 9th day of September last, received
10y express from the Department of State at
Washington city, certified copy of two sections
of an act passed by the Congress Of the United
States, "proposing to the State of Texas the
establishment of her Northern and Western
boundaries, and the relnq ushment by said State
of all territory claimed by her, exterior to said
boundaries and Of all her claim upon the United
States, and to establish territorial government
for New Mexico"
You will perceive, upon an examination of the
propositions thus submitted Ga copy Of which
is herewith laid before you0 that their accept
ance by the State can be manifested only by an
Act of its legislature, and to make the agree
ment binding and obligatory upon the United
States" it is necessary that your action shall be
consumated, on or before the first day of Deem
Der next The Importance, there ore, of assem-
bling you in extraordinary session at as curly
day as was practicable after the receipt ofsthc
authenticated copy of the two sections of the
act above referred to, was so obvious to my
mind that did not hesitate moment to issue
my proclamation convoking the legislature on
the third Monday in November; which proclama-
ton, together with the Bill us transmitted to me
by the Honorable Secretary Of State, ! caused
at once to be conveyed to every portion of The
State, with the utmost despatch, by special mes
sengers employed for that purpose.
The short period intervening the time when
these propositions reached the Executive and
that in which they were to be finally acted upon
by the State Legislature, would have induced me
to have chosen an earlier day for your meeting
had believed it practicabct to convey the infor.
nation which the propositions contained to the
remote counties of the States, in time to hav,
afforded our fellow-citizens an opportunity fo
forming and expressing their opinions on tho
important subjects to be presented to you, ant
thus enable you as their immediate agents tt
execute their will nyour Legislative action upor
these subjects. This, trust, will satisfactorily
explain to your honorable body, and to our con
stituents what may have appeared to some Gin
attentive to, or not cognizant Of, the true att
tude of the subject to which your deliberations
are now to be drected,) as an unnecessary delay
in the time appointed for your assembling TO,
getker.
1t is true, that there is nothing in the act OF
Congress embracing the propositions herein re-
terred to, which required that they should BE-
submitted to the people at all, and from the
very limited period allowed for their acceptance
or rejection, such reference does not seem t>
have been contemplated; the legislature alon,
being required to act upon them. This feature
in the bii of Congress engaged the ANXIOUS at
tention of the Executive, and imposed a degre,
OF responsibility which was cheertully anG
promptly met, trust in manner satisfactory
to the country. in Government and country
like ours where all political power enanates d.
reetly from the people, and where their repre-
sentatiyes and agents are only employed 70, q
limited period to carry out their will when fairly
and clearly ascertained | coud not for 4 mo-
ment believe that measure of such vast i'm.
pOrtance in every point of view, as the dismem.
berment Of their State, and the disposition of Il
large portion Of it for purposes not embraced in
the original organization Of their government
should be acted upon without aff,ordng to the
people at large, an opportunity for making Known
their opinions, and expressing their wishes upon
this measure. ! therefore, simultaneously will
the proclamation convenng the legislature is
sued another, embracing therein, word for word
and letter for letter, the authenticated copy re
ceived from the Hon. Daniel Webster, Secre
tary of State, and by which the chief justices 0
their respective counties throughout the State
were directed to cause polls to be opened at I'll,
various precincts as early as could be done atte
giving the necessary notices, and at which tn,
citizens of the State could express their scnti
IneRts rs TO the propriety of accepting or reject
ing the propositions submitted to the State, ant
make those sen .iments known as guide for tn,
action Of their representatives when assemble
in their legislative halil
In adopting this course, an sustained by tn,
confidence that the citizens OF our State viii
accord to me the justice of havl9g respected
Of the great and essential principles asserted
IN our constitution, which dsclarss that oil pc
aitieal power is inherent in the people!an trus
that there ia no member in either branch Of the
honorable Legislature, who will suppose that
have had any desire to control or trammel hiu
IN the free exercise of bis own judgment upor
this grave and important subject.
Regarding the act which you are now ealisd
upon to perform us oRe requiring the exercise
OF high sovereign powers powers that are
rarely delegated by the people, except as agents
expressly chosen with reference to them. and
believing it to be the desire Of every member OIL
your honorable body TO carry out in the purity
and spirit Of our republican institutions, and