The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-09-10
GOV BELLS MESSAGE TO THE TEXAS
LEGISLATURE,

This is very important document It
commences by statement Of the causes
that rendered the call for an extra session
necessary and gives narration Of the mis-.
sion of Major Neighbors, the agent employ.
ed by Texas 10 organize the counties Of Pre-.
sidio, San Patricio, Worth and Santa Fe;
his reception by Col. Munroe and the Fed.
eral Judge at Santa Fe, and Of his letter of
remonstrance to the President OF the United
States with all of which the reader is lamil.
lar He then proceeds;
Having thus, gentlemen, placed before
you in very plain and brief manner, the
most prominent facts and circumstances con.
ected with our relations with Santa Fe,
and as they have recently been developed,
and having called your attention to the uu.
warrantabe assumption Of power by the
| Executive branch of the Federal Govern
nent in its direct inference with the munic.
ipa and internal affairs of sovereign State,
the question at once presents tself-what
course does duty, honor, patriotism and a
just appreciation OF our solemn obligations
10 the country require US to adopt!
| am fully sensible that this is question
| involving the most serious considerations,
and in its contemplation there is commIngled
much Of hope and apprehension. But who
will falter in the pathway OF duty though
the wrong.doer be there powerful and nigh
| ty? On the one hand our devotion to the
| Union-a devotion manifested in the con
fiding spirit with which we yielded many o.
the most important attributes OF sovereignty
f1r a connection with it, renders US ayersC
TO the adoption of measures which nigh
seem by possibility TO contemplate coils
ion with any of its constituted authorities
while, on the other hand, just sense o
what is due to ourselves will not permit u
to submit to outrages and wrongs from an!
quarter. So long as we were permitted Il
cherish the hope that there existed no fixet
or premedltated design, to deprive us OF on
acknowledged and essential rights, our Ian
guage was that of entreaty and suppIicatio
our coursSthat Of forbearance and model
alton, tut With the undeniable evidence nov
before us Of settled determination to dc
spoil us, regardless Of compacts and const
tutional guarantees, OF at least one-third {
+ our territory-a continuance OF such lal
guage and such course, would be degrad;
tion and shame
Difficult and embarrassing, then, as th
e question undoubtedly is, and howevt
: fraught its contemplation with painful soii
G tude, we have left LIS no choice but 10 met
j. it. It must be met boldly, and learlessl
} and determinedy. Not by further supp
! Pcation or discussion with federal authoritie
D not by renewed appeals to their generosi
: and sympathy; not by longer reliance {
l the delusive hope that justice will yet be e
r tended to u.s. but by action--many and d
l. termlned action--on our part, by proml
/. assertion of our righ hts and practical mai
o taiDance ofthem with all means we can cor
9 mand, "at all hazards and to the last extrei
e ity."
k After deeply, and trust maturely, reaeC
e ing on this subject, with mind guided
e the most anxious desire TO take no step in
5. which would not command appreciation
of my fellow-citizens and the rejecting portit
y OF those of our sister States, whose intere
l. in this matter is strongly assimilated to on
Ell it IL my deliberate and firm conviction tn
Is there Is now left us but one course consiste
J. with honor, and just sense Of what 10 d
Is to ourselves as sovereign community; al
s. that is the immediate adoption by your no
J. orable body, with perfect unanimity, ofsu'
I. measures as are necessary for the occupatiC