New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-07
WESTERN TEXAS.


National War Committee to induce the Government
to send military force into Western Texas submit
the following report;
CONDITION OF THE UNION MEN OF TFfAs
The condition OF the Union men Of Western Texas
demands the sympathy OF the people OF the loyal
Staes and emit les them TO powerful effort on the
part of the General Government for their relief.
From the beginning of the revolt, IN which the
State OF Texas compelled To take All unwilling
part, until the present time, considerable portion
Of its population have been unwaverlng III their
fidelity to the Uoion, and uncom omising in their
refusal OF aid or allegiance 10 Tue Confederate
authorities. The treacAery OF Gen. IwlgGs, III
turniug over all the arms III the State to tie in-
surgenis rendered tie loyal men pOwerless 70 Te.
sst the act Of Secession in Its Original inception;
and surrounded by IN armed force, they have, been
unable TO leave the State in any numbers to SEEK
protection among the friendly MeXicans On their
border, or FROM the blOckadiDg vessels which have
al times been stationed ON the coast.
PARALLEL BETWEEN TEXAS AND TENNESSEE.
la this respect their situation is not exceptional,
ana arguments OF equal force might be urged IN be-
half of tie suffering loyalisIs OF Eastern see,
whose position presents to this extent parallel VIII
that of Western Texas.
But here the parallel ceases. The Government
has hestated, and perhaps wisely. rs 10 the prJr-
ETY. Of sending into Eastern Iennessee fearing,
aud 1t may be assured, that the arms thus supplied
would not alone enable the inhabitants to throw OH
the yoke Of the usurpers ami that either military
campaign, must be iaade III that direction or else
THAI the nrms supplied would, from the inability OF
the inhabitants maintain themselves fall INTO the
hands Of the Rebels and be used against TIC very
citizens they were destined 10 AID.
1t Is worthy of passing question whether the plan
of entering Eastern Tennessee IL force year slnce,
and gaining the aid of large. loyal population
from that and neiQhboring States, while driving,
wedge-iike, powerful army mo toe heart Oh the
South, ana, to use military expression, operating
upon the diameter of the circle, would no. laye
been mere fruitful of results than thai adopted-of
extended attack on the circumference OF the ar
cle on the famous anaconda line from ldeAmond TO
Memphis. Ard II is not improper TO remark, tuat
If there were a doubt to the respective merits o.
the two plans OF campaign, that doubt should have
operated in fSv0r OF a movement, winch, While l.
divided the strength and territory OF the enemy,
would also have fulfilled that first duty for which
government is constituted-the protection Of the
governed.
Tue case of Western Texas differs, in this respect,
from that OF Eastern tennessee, and an aid 10 Its
inhabitants involves no radical change OF military
plan. No large armies needed TO enable the
gallant Rangers of that State maintain their indie
pendence. Their refuge is on the mountains and on
the friendly soil of the neighboring republic. The
occupaton Of the Mississippi by ederal guuboats
separates their territory from the great military
power of the Confederacy, and they ask but for arns
to reclaim their State from anarchy and barbarian,
and restore it to the government OF the United
States. With the Rio Grande for base Of opera
their position against all the power the Rebels can
concentrate against them, west OF the great river;
or, 10 case OF temporary reverse they could cross
the Rio Grsnde, and fall back upon the soil of
friendly power, which the Confederates, who have
already hand sufficient 10 tax their utmost
strength, would not dare 10 invade, and render nos.
hle
POLITICAL IMPORTANCE OF TEXAS To THE
FREE STATES.
h The interest of their situation is no., however,
la n
4he PosIion OF Texas is of extreme Importance IN
It's relation 10 the Free States, in the great contest
OF opinion now waginS between the principles OF
free and slave labor
The territory of Texas contains Of ga ,00O
square miles; six and half times ss large
ss that Of the State of New-York an area nearly
as large as that of France and Spain combined
The act Of 1916, under which Texas was admitted
into the Union, Provides that new States OF con-
genient size, not exceeding four in number In adj
dtion to said State OF Texas, and having spfcisn;
population, may hereafter. by the consent oT aid
State be formed OF tho territory thereof, which
shall be entitled to admission under The proysioHs 81
the Federal Constitution" Tie population Is by
tue last census sufficiently large, ana the inter-
ests sufficiently diverse, 10 admit OF separation.
Census of IS60-42l $40 free 49, SCI slave. Total
population 604 2lj. Tlere is areicy as in Virginia,
wide distinction between the Character, baolt' and
modes of industry OF the Western and Eastern pOr-
lions OF the State. In the West, among the noun
tsns and on the table land, the polniaon Is cieiy
white, large proportion German settlers, oil
attached TO the policy Of Tree lsbOr and free soil 10
the eastward, Oh tie slopes aud the low and toward
she Gulf, the culture is mainly OF cotton and sugar,
aid the laboIog classes aie mostly slave Here The
political parallel between Virginia and IeAhs ceases.
Constitutional questions arlse, which render the
division OF Virginia embarrassing Is precedent,
although there Is doubt tina. tue interest OF her
western loyal population would be greatly benefited
by 1t. For, If on any grounds of pohey-whether
local or national-the division Of State can be con-
Sented TO, the wise check upon Legislation b. the
Senate may be entirely destroyed, and The people Of
the large States, chafng under The IueQlallIle. 10
which their fathers consented in the formation oil the
Constitution may seek DIVIDE into smaller organi.
cations 10 corect such inequalities. 81 dangerous
Innovations!
This objection does not apply in tie Of Texas,
tie act Of annexation cOnten plaiiug It division.
This eapaci.y OF division introduced into The act
by the foresight Of Southern sta.obu en-, wuo pro-
yosed in this mode, 10 retain all equipOiss IN The
St nate, AID postpone The cctsn future pIePoudeT-
anee Of the Free States in the senate
Ii aided 10 recover the state authority, and 10
ioa ntan themselves, the Texans viii apply 10 the
next Congress for the division contemplated ana
thus one or two more Free states can be- carved
from the borders Of Secession, 20 secure, beyond
Contingency, the immediate prepondefanco Oh tls
free-state interest! even though Tie COniederates
should lay down their arms, and, abandoning tue
contest Ia the field, return again 10 the political
srena and seek 10 the future, de n tie pass
troll or cOnIne the To- lstOn Oi the country in The
halls OF Congress.
thus would these political eugnCers be "host
with their own petard," and - GORDON he estaO-
lished about Slavery which viii forever prevent il
extension.
tinITARY IMPORTANCE OF TfXAs-ITs oCCIr.
PATTON NECESSARY 10 COMPLETE TIE
BLOCKADE.
This loyal Gordon il not only necessary in the fu-
Tare in political sense but Il il doubly necessary
n "a mill Of Ia he