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

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
State Of Texas, November l8, 1850.
TO 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 for me to as
semble you again in extraordinary session and
in greeting you once more us the representa-
lives 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 We're likely to arise
with the Federal Government in respect to our
territorial limits.
On the 9th day of September last, received
by express from the Department of State at
Washington city, acertified copy of two sections
States, "proposing to the State of Texas the
establishment Of her Northern and Western
boundaries, and the REIMBURSEMENT 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 a territorial government
for New Mexico"
You will perceive, upon an examination of the
propositions thus submitted, Ga copy of which
is herewith laid before you,) 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 cfthe
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 as 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
shat in which they were to be finally acted upon
by the State legislature, would have induced me
10 have chosen an earlier day for your meeting
had believed it practicable to convey the infor.
nation which the propositions contained to the
remote counties of the States, in time to hav,
afforded our fcllow-citizens an opportunity fo
forming and expressing their opinions on tho
important sub jects to be presented to you ant
thus enable you as their immediate agents tt
execute their will your Legislative action upor
these subjects. This, trust, will satisfactorily
explain to your honorable body, and to our con
.tituents 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 directed,) 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-
terrcd to, which required that they should be
submitted to the people at all, and from the
very limited period allowed for their acceptance
or re- lection, such reference does not seem t
have been contemplated the legislature alon,
being required to act upon them. This featur,
in the bi of Congress engaged the anxious at
tention of the Executive, and imposed degree
OF responsibility which was cheerfulIy ana
promptly met, trust in manner satisfactory
to the country In Government and country
like ours, where all political power elnanates d.
reetIy from the people, and where their repre-
sentatives and agents are only employed fox n
limited period, to carry out their will when fairly
and clearly ascertained, could not for mo-
ment believe that measure of such vast i'm
portance in every point of view, rs the dismem-
berment OF their State and the disposition Of II
large portion Of it for purposes not embraced in
the original organization of their government
should be acted upon without atfording to the
people at large, an opportunity for making k ,own
their opinions, and expressing their wishes upon
this measure. therefore, simultaneously with
the proclamation converting the legislature, is
sued another, embracing therein, word for word
and letter for letter, the authenticated copy re
ceved from the Hon. Daniel Webster, Secre
tary Of State, and by which the chief justices OF
their respective counties throughout the State
were directed to cause polls to be opened at the
various precincts as earl as could be done after
giving the necessary notices, and at which the
citizens of the State could express their senti
meRts rs to the propriety of accepting or reject
ing the propositions submitted to the State, and
snake those entiments known as guide for the
action Of their representatives when assembled
in their legislative halls.
In adopting this course, an sustained by the
confidence, that the citizens Of our State will
accord to me the justice Of having respected
Of the great and essential principles asserted
IN our constitution, which declares that ali pc.
aitieal power is inherent in the peopleiapd trust
that there ia no member in either branch Of the
honorable legislature, who will suppose that |
have had any desire to control or trammel him
In the free exercise Of bis own judgment upon
this grave and important subject
Regarding the act which you are now ealisd
upon to perform us one requiring the exercise
"f high sovereign powers powers that are
rarely delegated by the people, except rs agents
expressly chosen with reference to them. and
believing it to be the desire Of every member Of
your honorable body to carry out in the purity
ind spirit Of our republican institutions, and