The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-20
More Titbits for Texas.

More Titbits for Texas.
Some people might suppose that the Texan
Congressman, having occurred the enlarge
mcnt Of the army tO $4,000 men, an extra
cavalry force for their own State, and
good start for their project OF building a
new Gordon Of forts along the Rio Grandc,
would rest content with thoir labors and
their laures In this direction.
But there are tokens that, flushed with
triumph, the Texans coyct indemnity for
the past as we'll IN security for the future.
Galveston paper, which says that their
action on the Army bill will meet tho APP
prevail Of their constituencies in spite Of tho
Republican company In which II temporari-
ly placed thcm," lately contained letter
from the state capital, announcing that the
state Comptroller had made up, and that
Gov. HUBBARD had forwarded to the Texan
delegation In Congress, n " little bill tO be
presented to Uncle sam" On examination
we find that this little bill amounts to
$l,7ji.773.96, Of which sum the chief part, or
81 ,629, Gi5.6J, is for the reimbursement Of
"amuunts expended for frontier defence"
These amounts are considerably given I'm
two sections, or slices the first being the
expenses from Jan. y. 1855 to Jan. ~, 1861,
81 ABS; while the second comprises those
from Jan /. 1865. tO Jan l, 1877, $l.225. 1852
Such expenses az occurred for frontier de-
fence during the civil war are, IL appears
not charged up against Uncle sam; but
while the date Jan. % 1861, is all right when
tins little Till comes To- he presented IN
Congress the date Jan. t. $50. may bc found
rather too frcc-and-casy. since tho fall OF
Richmond did not occur TIL April of that
year.
However that is detail of email import
ancc. Tho main point 10 that this little bill
has been forwarded for collection and that
last weeks tction Of Congress was Of the
sort to accrcdit the claim. For since the
indian bostilties and the riots are endel
there can he no prctrnce OF any existing
necessity for the enlargement Of the army.
except in order tu protect the Rio Grandc--
an exception confirmed by the general tone
Of debate, as we'll as 10y special and UNI
usual provision in the hill, ma passed. for the
frontier defence Of Texas. But the Texans
can show, 10y the annual report Of Gen. ORD.
the department commander, that the Rio
Grandc il better protected from raids now
than IL has been for years" such period
Of immunity has not been known for years"
is his language. or course, therefore. If
Congress practically declares that even this
better protection is wholly inadequate. 1t
lays the foundation OF an Acknowledgement
Of past Governmental neglect Of border de-
fence, and hence of the justice Of reimburse
mcnt.
Now, although this little bill has not vet
been brought forward 10y the Texans, and
no whisper of it- existence was heard during
the army debate yet certain assertions
made 10y the Texas Congressman show that
they had IT. in mind For example Mr.
MILLS declared that 1.-THE State of Texas
had expended sl,sO0,Oo0 In defence Of the
frontier, and II 1t We're not for Texas troops
to-day Cen ORD would not be able tn main
tain himself fifty miles west of san Antonio"
SO that II would oven seem that still an
other item ought 10 be added To Gov HrB-
BARD's little bill, namely. ~. s. to State OF
Texas. DR., For care and maintenance of
Gen. ORD s." In like manner. Mr.
M.XEY, in the Senate announced that "up
I" this time the people Of Texas had neither
Indemnity for the past nor security for the
future" while Mr.. COKE said that Texas had
""xpenfed $l.5lO,00o in protecting her Rio
Grande and Indian frontiers, which the Fed
eral government was bound TO protect"
In Austin they are already hguiin, that
this amount collected from Uncle sam
would go far toward keeping State war
rants at par until it had been exhausted.
besides reducing taxes for year or So"
The course Of the Texans on the Army bill
IL intelligib"; 50 ii that of the Republicans;
but the foregoing points may perhaps edify
those Democrats who, having the motives
neither of the Texans nor of he Republicans
10 excuse them, yet allied themselves with
both 10 enlarge the army--a measure that.
rs the vote shows, could easily have been
defeated by them, against the Texans and
Republicans combined.