The national Republican., 1861-06-06
THE TEXAS MYSTERY.

month Of February last, under the command Of
Brigadier General Twiggs, whose headquarters
were at San Antonio. Nearly one fourth, per.
haps more, Of the whole effective military force
Of the United States was in that department.
The Adjutant Generals report Of November
2S, 1860, shows that, at that date, there were
present in the department III commissioned
officers, and over 5000 soldiers, including seven
companies of the third infantry, transferred
from the department of New Mexico These
forces we're stationed in thirteen forts aud ten
camps, fully provisioned, armed, aud equipped.
They comprehended every arm of service
cavalry, artillery, infantry-and we're regarded
as the elite Of the Federal army. In numbers,
arms, discipline, equipments, in everything that
constitutes military power aud efficiency, the
army Of Texas far exceeded any force then or.
ganized, or that for long time could be or.
ganized, in the United States.
This army, in the month Of February, sur.
rendered to enemies Of the United States every
fort, garrison, and military station, in Texas
penceably and quietly surrendered. Not the
forts only, but $55,000 Of public money, thirty.
FIVE thousand stands Of arms, twenty.six pieces
Of mounted artillery, forty.four pieces Of un.
mounted artillery, with horses for a regiment
Of cavalry, mules, wagons, tents, provisions,
ammunition, and munitions of war, were sur.
rendered, to the estimated value Of from one
and half to three millions of dollars With.
out shot, without blow, the flag Of the Uni.
ted States was hauled down from thirteen forts
and ten camps and the great military depart.
ment Of the Southwest, with its cannon, arms,
and munitions, was, by Government officers,
"turned over" to insurgents and rebels, to be
used, as at this hour they are used, against the
Government
The pecuniary value Of this immense sscri.
fee Of public property is as nothing compared
to the military advantage gained by the rebels
and lost to the Government by this surrender.
The department Of Texas, resting on the Gulf,
outaanking the insurgent States, with short and
safe communication by sea with the mouth of
the Mississippi, and having commodious ports
and harbors for refuge, shelter, aud defence Of
our commerce against privateering pirates,
possessed geographical, commercial, and mill
tsry advantages, for the present contest, inest.
mable to the Government. With that depart.
ment, occupied by loyal, regular, disciplined,
military force of cavalry, artillery, and infantry,
strong in numbers, equipments, munitions, and
transportation, as the army of Texas was, the
Federal Government would have required little
additional strength Or effort to protect the pub
lie property and enforce the laws in all the
States bordering upon the Gulf end Atlantic
have constituted a barrier against the piratical
attacks now threatened by the rebels upon New
Mexico and the Pacific States.
But, by the surrender of that department,
the Government has lost and the rebel cause
tsges beyond the power of money to estimate
or Of language to express. When, added to
this, tho political advantage is considered
which the insurgents acquired by having theiI
so.called Confederation embrace solid tier O.
States, on the seaboard and Gulf, instead o
being Aanked and hemmed in, as they woult
have been by the State Of Texas, some ides
may be formed Of the disastrous consequence
Of the surrender of this department by the
Texas army. Had the Government troops
with loyal officers like Captain Lyon, remained
in Texas that State must have continued loya
to the Union. Without Texas, the Southern
Confederation could never have been set OF
foot.
How happened this great calamity VIII
we're thirteen forts and ten camps SURRENDERED
to rebels, and the flag of the Union haule
down from every military post aud station il
the Department. Why, above all, we're car
non, and arms, and horses, and wagons, mean
oftransportation, and munitions of war, "turne
over" by officers of the United States to tn
enemies of the Government, without swor
,, drawn or gun fred in their defence? Is ther
no such thing us military duty or fidelity
this Government? These ore questions t
which Congress must demand an answer and
speedy one, if no other branch Of the Govern
ment will notice them. Astounded by tn
shameful sight of Commodores burning, an
, unsklllully burning, our own noble ships an
, great navy yards, confused aud hurried alou
by the swift current Of treason and rebellion
, the public mind has not yet been able to gras
, or comprehend the momentous transactions
, Texas. But the presence ut Washington
? Col.Waite aud other officers who played parts
! these transactions will compel the Governmel
to probe and understand this Texas myster
, Why was all the public property in the depar
!. msnt of Texas "turned over" as military spo
b. to rebelsH National honor, national satet
t national justice, demands explanation Of tn
t mystery. 1t is said the officers ' were betraye
r into the hands Of the enemy by Gen. Twiggs
e He was broke, dismissed from the army, f
:, " "treachery to the flag of his country" n
!. one denies or doubts his guilt. But how Il
trsachery Of Twiggs could have sccomplishe
anything without the aid of others, remains
. be explained. Twi2gs's order was made
e the 18th day Of February. But mark the fact
/. that on the very next day, the 18th of Febr
i. ary, he was superseded by Colonel Waite, VIII
:. by order of the War Department, assumed Il
>, command that all three Of the principal OF
!, GERS, Major Vinton, Major Maclin, and CAY
. Whitley, acted rs a joint commission with Il
). rebel commissioners, to settle the terms Of Il
surrender; that when Colonel Waite took col
d mand, nothing had been delivered up, and
If movement had been made; and it was as w
e known at San Antonio as at Washington tn
'. the order Of Twiggs was "treachery to the a.
of of his country" From the President in Il
i. White House to the root-digger Indian, is the
q, any being so low in the scale Of human int,
D. lect as not to know and feel that the order
Twiggs was "treachery to the fag?" Ho
then, came that order to be obeyed after Twig
n had been superseded?