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

for nor required aid. They now appeal for help,
and are willing and ready to fight. TEXAN.
Report
OF TIE COMMITTEE WHO VISITED WASHINGTON
! ON THE AFFAIRS OF WESTERN TEXAS.
The Committee charged TO visit Washington and
lay before the President aud Secretary Of War the
report of the National War Committee, on tho i'm
porance Of an early military occupation OF Texas to
relieve the Union Of tha. State, and to anticipate
any possible designs of the French in that quarter;
and also to urge the propriey Of issuing procama-
ton to the citizens Of the South, setting forth the
objects of tie war to be the restoration Of the United
States authority. and the relief Of the oppressed
POPULATIONS Of the South from the odiouS tyranny to
which they are now subject, begs leave respectfully
to report:
That, in accordance with the wish Of the Commit
tee they accompanied in their ylsit 10 WASH
ingion by Mr.. Edward Lee Plumb, late OF the
United states Legation to Mexico, and by Hon. An
drew Jack.on Hamilton, the representative OF Texas
| in tue XXXVIth Congress, who had lately escaped
from the tyranny and pursuit OF the Confederate au-
| thorites.
accompanied BY the above named gentlemen ana
several distinguished Texan refugees, visited tie
Secretary Of War by appointment, aud were favored
with long and interesting interview. The Secre-
|
port Of the Com nittee which had been submitted TO
him, and expressed "a warm interest in the subject,
the importance Of which lie said, was fully Appre-
ciaed by the Government, and which has for many
months engaged its attention.
| He expressed the decided opinion thAtthe rebel
lion was only 10 be "throtled" by y full military
occupation Of the country west OF the Mississippi aud
of Texas, from which The Confederate authorities
have drawn large retnforcemens OF men, ana large
supplies Of provision and material OF war. lie did
moi communicate any information an 10 the Immediate
intentions Of the Government in that direction, but
| lie was willing TO say that the occupation OF thas
country and the relief Of its population was never
| 30 uear as at the present Time.
| lie stated with great warmth, that he was dis
tiuctly opposed TO any expedition tie magnitude VI
which was sufficient TO absolute protection
to The Unonists who should JOIN the national forces,
and attempt 10 throw oil the yoke OF the usnfplng
authority and that be would consent TO plan
which involved any probability Of deserton OF the
country thus occupied, or an abandonment oi tie
citizens thus 10 be protected.
The Texan gentlemen were very decided IN their
opinion that moderate force, landed ~ the mouth
Of the Rio Grande, would effect the deliyeraBce Of
} large number Of Union men, and urged The point
that every days delay Diminished the number OF
such Oyalists who were constantly beng forced
into the ranks OF The Rebel army by the act Of
scription without any regard 10 the laws Of drafti
and these views were subsequently, strengthened by
the information received by tho last mai va Meal
CO. tia; force OF Union men had been Oyeraken Ia
their flight 10 Mexico by the Confederate sroops,
aud the whole party KILLED, the wounded having
been hanged.
The Secretary engaged to give due consideration
10 The views urged by The committee, aud thuA sup
ported by the Texan representatives.
The Secretary Of War laid great stress upon the
fact that all tue forces which could be raised
called for by the military authorities IN sommsnd, and
that Le hesi.a,ed about the withdrawal Of rirgle
regiment IN the present condition OF aiairo near The
oalitel.
The Secretary seemed 10 entertain a fixed opinion
tho, the hissssIpp the natural avenue for move
O. ent TO Texiu aud Now-Orleaus tho pToior base Of
OIL ertions and denly looked 10 tue estei troops
rs tie force TO les used IL such movement; but his
statement Of he condition OF AialTs IN AfkDsas aud
NJ ssoan, where TIE Rebel forces were sGid TO b.
peIOr e National, and Of the imPortlbiity Oh d.
vertiuo troops from the NOnn.Nesten o.acs willie
the present alarm continued about lie INDIAN TaIGe,
winch Withheld from OtLer service about -, 900
recently leyBd in Ibose STATES seemed 70 give little
encouragement 10 the hope loT "u early eAl petition
from that quAItef.
1he Texan gentlemen pressed strongly the in
torrance OF IN independent expedition 10 the mouth
of tue INo GrluGe Tor the eAFsetb pupose oi re-
lheylg the Un'cuis-s preparatory 10 - campaign on
; toe H.CCts River, aa an adjunct to sDy niiitdry
moves. cut iIOI ay UtAer direction, aud stated with
confidence Tia. lLOdcIdi iOfCo banded thoro would
no sui cient 10 elect the release OF tie LAiOntis
WLIIe Iney wODld be utterly Ind nOpclcstly de-
stroy cd Jules "a force landed precisely az that
rOiut 10 o,en IN avenue Oi escape, aud break tie
GORDON % hcDCl lOFtc " WHICH thry hfU now sur
rounded, or unless au army, suincientiy large TO
overwnolm all opposition, should DO landed to
= operate from Indl4IO.4.
TIE Committee ieel IL their duty to say that the
Secretary manifested great interest III tue accounts
, OF ihe position Of The loyssts OF TeXar ana tho
pOpIsty vi giving elective H1 ~ Ito Union Men
Of TIE South.
On tue succeeding day, tie Committee w9iied on
the President, accompanied by sir. Hamilton ana
the Texan refugees, aud thc POINTS stated were
strongly urged upon Inn, aS well a. tic grsnt I'M
pols.nce, IA Wow Of Tie complications which a
Eeucl occupation Ot the Mexican border OF the
Ily Grande, and possible change IN the political
status OF IoXleO, consequent on the SUCCESS OF the
kTench aTmr, vi 1T once restoring Tho National au-
tAority over thu. important frontier. la this
neotiOn, the Committee were much indebted 10 Mr..
9 Plumb for the clear and ALE manner Ia which he
portrayed TIC present condition Of Mexican athrs,
and their important bearing upon tue protent hsue,
which, IRON his repeated and recent rerdeuce III
that county, lie was abe " present. III Oaltiye
aud authentic manner
During the interview the President made essen.
italy tho objection urged by The Secretary of War
10 the detachment OF any fOfco whatever from tie
armies now near Washington, particularly as "A for
i ward movement was 5000 expected, aud the rul-
itary chiefs were btll pressing Tor reGnfoIcemeuts.
10 the statement that The troops necessary for the
expedition could be raised especially Tor The purpose
named, tie PTosdcnt objected that they would btiil
be Withdrawn from The men Oh whom he relied Tor
further recruits In this connection, although 10
such view wes presented either directly Or Indirect
Is, by tho Committee, The President stated his re-
pugnaDce 10 special corps, which created eInbai1ars-
ment and confusion in the departments, and cousd-
cradle Iers0ual annoyance ~ himself
| Tie PIesldent expressed an earnest desire 10 ala
the loyal population OF the South, ana on The ushuT-
ances oil the Texans that force OF D. 700 men, landed
Ut the mouth of tho Lilo Grande, with arus, would
shortly DO Joined by 900 to 10000 Unionsis, part
Of whom were already III Mexico, and pant IN the