Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1862-02-05
STATE or TEXAS,

nhturHL war winch lney nave forced upon
US, have departed from the recognized usa.
ges Of civilized warfare; true valor no Ion.
ger characterizes their military leaders
for persecution and insolcnce, dire oppres.
sion, and the most savage plunderings mark
their footsteps; and
II. Whereas, their armies of aggression
recruited by hordes of ruffiians melted by
lust rapine and undying hatred to us and
to our institutions; now threaten by inva-
sion, the integrity and safety of our State,
and unless efIecually opposed by timely
energy and numbers, may involve the very
existence of our Government;
III. Therefore, mpeled by n due sense
of the impending danger, the Legislature,
ent session has passed an act which has OBJ
tained the approval OF the Executive: "To
perfect the organization Of the State Troops
rnd place the same on war footing.
". This law erNcts that all white male
inhabitants not specially exempted shall be
liable to military duty between the ages Of
eighteen and fifty years.
V. Each Senatorial District except the
first, shall be constituted into military
district. 1t is made the duty Of the senior
Justice of the Peace, in each Precinct in
every county, by authority Of the Brigadier
Generals to enroll all persons liable to mil
itary duty under heavy fines and penalties
for neglect
vi. 1t is incumbent on Captains to en-
force the military laws of this State, to as
semble their companies at least once in ev-
cry two weeks during the existence of the
nd hn i,,g gt,pr in ba
school of the soldier and the company.
VII. They shall report all defaulters for
neglect of military duty, to the first Court
Martial authorized to try the same and to
cause such offenders to be summoned to at
tend said court, which he shall furnish with
the evidence of such summons.
VIII. They shall have the power Of re-
enrolment as often as they may deem nc
cessary, and the power TO impose such pun
ishment by arrest, imposition of fatigue du-
ty, or other punishment for dsobedence of
orders or unmilitary conduct whilst on pa
rade, &C., regulated by their discretion, bnt
responsible for the improper use of authori-
" in the manner raovided by law.
TX. All delinqucnts not excused by their
company officers, arc mulcted in fines collec-
ted through Magistrates Courts by summA-
ry process. Amy Beat Company refusing
to organize by election of officers or other
wise, the Brigadier General shall appoint
their officers, who shall strictly enforce the
military laws, under heavy fines and penal
ties.
" The Colonel selects some fit plaza for
regimental or battalion drill within his dis
trict, and shall have the power to compel
the State troops of his regimentnl district
to assemble on the place 80 selected, at least
once in every two months, with appropriate
fines and penalties for neglect or failure.
XI. During any invasion, insurrection,
or rebellion, whenever, in the opinion Of tho
Governor, Il c interest of the State demands
the State troops to be called into the field,
or whenever called upon by the Presidy.t O t
the Confederate States to furnish GySadai-
tional amount of soldiers for the prosecution
Of the present war, the Governor Sha,, issue
his Proclamation torany design ted, number
of volunteers to take the field, and should
tho number Offering he insr ,ficient then ho
can direct such Brigadiel Generals as he
may gee fit, to order . trnfs.
XII. All volunteer companies organized
under the act apprr we'd february 10TH 1858,
are by this act ip rIJorated and form part
Of the State tro ops attached to the several
regiments aDd hrigadcs within their militia
ry districts, to perform duty with the same
upon all battalion, regimental and brigade
drills rarGdcs, or encampments and when
ever ordered into active service by the Gov
ernor or their brigadcr General, they shall
hove the privilege Of going rs whole conf
pauyi but should such company refuse to
march as II whole company, it ahall forth
with be disbanded by order of the Governor,
and the members enrolled in the Beat Com
panies.
XIII. Il win he Observed that great dis
.tt..s .,r, stc0 o officers, 20
Il Is on., h. . no ,gzh lischarg" 0. s,g.r
duties az cljoiued by tie laws, that we can
be prepared for the czigsncy; aud it is the
of the Executive to sustain them
in the proper discharge Of their duties; We
know that ''the price of liberty is eternal
vigileuee."
XIV. It is true that twenty-five thou
sand noble sons Of Texas have rushed to
arms and sought the relentless foe wherever
he was to be found. The valleys Of Arizona,
tho plains Of Missouri, "tbe dark and bloody
ground Of Kentucky, and the bank sof the
Potomac, amply attest that victory has
vreathed their brows whenever they have
net their treaeherous enemy.
XIV. But to prevent the desecration Of
he soil Of Texas, that our fair land shall
lot be laid waste and devastated, that our.
iegroes shall not be kidnapped, and our
'otton stolen; our whole line Of SEQ coast
rom the Sabine to the Rio Grande, must be
defended by an adequate force, and the
luota must be obtained from the host Of pat
lotto Texans reserved for home defence.
XVI. 1t is there, on our own coast, that