Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1860-02-08
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
= Gentlemen fAe Senate tsH aaf1
'@'.s and House of Representatives.
A press of public business, which has not a.
lowed time for the preparation of this communi
cation, has prevented me from presenting at n
earlier period, to the representatives of the peo
pie, that information concerning the condition o
our State affairs, and the policy which will actu
ate my administration, expected ut my hands. Ii
the short period which has elapsed since my in
auguration, it is not to be supposed that hav
been able te obtain critical knowledge of th
workings of the different departments of govern
ment, 80 ms to recommend such notifications anc
improvements rs may be necessary to effect the
purposes of economy and reform; and | car
therefore but commend the application Of those
principles which should extend to, and influence
all Of the avenues of government, affecting the
discharge Of official duty, of whatever grade, and
controlling the operations of government, legisla.
tive and administrative. = rs7s 1o..a.1oaaA 7a'i3
4 The office of Executive falls into my hands at
70 peculiar period in our history as State. Con-
templatipg alone the vastness of its extent, the
diversified interests of its people, and the char
.actcr of its resources, yet nndeveloped, there
is enough to demand continued labor and
attention, in order to apply the benefits of gov
ernment with sound discretion, and proper re-
gard to the relative demands of each interest {;
but apart from these, a considerable portion of
our State, bordering upon the Rio Grande, is in
q state of tumult and war--our frontier is un-
protected and harrassed by Indians, and our
treasury, which we have hitherto regarded as Of
exhaustless capacity, considering the probable
expenses of government, is without dollar sub
jet to appropriation beyond the ar2rnt necessa-
~ to meet the currept exlenses of government
ior the present year !, DiIGplties like these, i'm
pelici iIiiacGate action, and the peace and secl-
nty Of the State being paramount object, my
attention has been first directed towards guetinG
the disorders upon the Rio Giunde, and proyid-
Ing for the defense Of our settlements against
Indian depredations. With due regard for the
dignity Of tho State, should be united desire TO
maintain peace within our limits. The blood
shed, the rayages and the desolation Of an intes-
tine war are to be considered nor should we
lose sight of the immense cost of prosecuting it.
If, by the use of those means known to humani-
ty and the laws of nations, such disturbances
can be quelled, all the considerations mentioned
demand their exercise. Possessed of no infor-
nation going to show the causes of the disorders
existing upon the Rio Grande, the Executive
could but act upon the fact of their existence
Z and accordingly, on the 2Sth of December, l is-
sued Proclamation, which was printed in the
English and Spanish languages, for circulation
bin that region, and copy of the same is, here
with submitted. This course is not only justi-
fed 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 the con-
sequences of further rebellion, and exhorts re-
turn to duty. If productive of the desired end,
the saving of blood and treasure which would ac-
crue, would be considerations which should far
outweigh the promptings of revenge, Or the ap-
peals Of hostility against race, already degen-
r., fo;I hal
law must be vindicated, and the offenders taught
subordination by force, ,sseo. Fa,. ss.s.rs{s.
= The first official: information received by the
Executive from the seat of these disorders, was
the communication of Capt. W. G. Tobin-here-
with Misunderstanding date at Ramireno, near
Brownsville, December 9th, 1856, and received
by hands of Capt. A. @. Hill. was grati6ed to
learn from that dispatch that the Federal Gov
ernment had interp0sed to restore order in that
region, and that Major Heintzleman, an officer I
of discretion and valor, had assumed the control
of military operations. Whatever complaint
NAV be made against the Federal Government, on |
account of the removal of the troops from that
portion of our border, its promptitude in enforc-
ing relief at this time, is deserving of consdera-
ton Satisfied, from the report of Capt. Tobin,
that sufficient force on the spot to quell the
disturbance. and that the federal arm would be /
still further extended at the call of its officers
commanding the troops there, dispatched Capt.
HILL with an escort, of twenty men, with instruc.
tions to Major j. s. Ford, commanding the Texas
forces by virtue of ON order of my predecessor.
In that Communication i stated that " as the
management of military operations has been as
signed by the Federal Government, to its officers,
IL troops are desired from Texas it is proper that
q requisition should be made by an officer of the
Federal Government in command of the United
States forces at that station. - Should such
requisition be made, i am satisfied that the citi-
zen soldiery of the country will respond with
alacrity to the call. On the 10th of January,
the report of Major Ford was received, dated at
Ringgold Barracks, December 29th, 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 Majoi Heintzleman, to whom great credit is
given 70. the disposition made of the troops
Our Rangers on this, as on the former occasion,
behaved with that bravery which is a part Of the
Texan character land the Federal troops likewise
acted with great gallantry. 50 signal was the
rout of the opposing forces, that think their
uniting again is improbable. The report of Maj.
Ford is herewith. submitted. .-~-------=-----s-
On the 14th inst, I received dispatches from
Major Tobin, dated Ringgold Barracks, dan. Sd,
1860, showing the organization Oh the Iexas {
forces and the result OF the election held accord
inply: also q letter from Major Heintzle1nan, IN
reply to Major Tobin. in which IL s shown that, {
in the opinion Of that officer, the forces OF Corti-
mas ore entirely dispersed and that REIN
forcement Of United States troops were on the
march. All of these documents are respectfully !