WHEREAS, The Convention, at a former day, passed resolutions declaratory of the defenceless condition of the people settled upon the frontier of the State; and,
WHEREAS, authentic information has been received by the Convention from almost all the counties of the frontier, of extensive raids by Indians since that time--raids in which large herds of horses and cattle were stolen and driven off, and many men, women and children, murdered and mutilated in the most barbarous manner, and many others carried away into captivity, whose condition is far worse than that of those who suffered death by the tomahawk and scalping knife; and,
WHEREAS, whole counties on said frontier, heretofore settled, have been depopulated by savage incursions, and it being fully demonstrated that, without efficient aid, speedily afforded, the people of the frontier counties must, and inevitably will, give way, and the settlements recede still further into the interior; therefore,
Be it resolved by the people of Texas, in Convention assembled, That the Governor be requested, and he is hereby authorized to appoint immediately a suitable commissioner to repair to Washington City to make known to the General Government the condition of the people settled upon the frontier of this State; and that the State is utterly powerless to afford the necessary aid and protection
Be it further resolved, That said commissioner is hereby instructed to urge upon the President and Secretary of War the fact, that the "Kickapoo" tribe of Indians now settled in Mexico, between Piedras Negras and Santo Rosa, are continually making raids into the settlements of Texas, and killing and carrying off our citizens and driving off large quantities of cattle and horses into Mexico; that they are well armed, and savage in the warfare they wage; and now have in their possession numbers of white children, captured in their raids; and also the necessity of sending immediately a sufficient number of troops to occupy the posts heretofore occupied by the United States forces, between Red River and the Rio Grande, in order that the frontier of the State may be fully protected, and the people secured in their persons and property.
Passed March 21, 1866.