The Texas Contest--houston's Letter

Texaa paperi bring us further dej tails of Houston's contest with the ] State convention. The following is ' the Governor's letter : i Executivi Depaktment, ? Aüstix, Texas, March 6th, 1861 J j W. P. Roberts and others, Committee : Gentlemen - In reply to your cominunication of the 5th, I can say, wben the Legislature authorized the convention to submit the proposition to the people of Texas, on the ( ject of secession from the Federal government of the United States, it was understood that the performance of that act, when done, would termínate the existence of the convention. The Exeeutive approved the same, with a protest against the shortness of the timo allowed, owing to the great limits of our State. ly a subsequent act of the Legislature it was required that the returns of the votes shou.d be made at the office of the Secretary of State, and counted in the presence ot tlie Governor and Attorney General. The votes were counted, and the reóult declared by proclamation, that a mujority of the votes were east tbr secession. By an act of the Legislature the convention was empowered only to submit the question of secession to a vote of the people. The convention peribrmed tlie lunctions assigned it by the Legislature, and, in the opinión of the Exeeutive, its powers were then exhausttd. The Exeeutive will recommend to the Legislature, which will re-assemble on the 18th iast., to take into consideration the important issues arising out of the severance of our coanections with the United States, with such recommendations and suggestions as he rnay think proper in the discharge of his duty. It will then bewithiu the province of the Legislature to take such action on the subject as they may think proper ; and also to cali a convention directly from the people, who will fairly represent their wishes and opinions, and who will have authority to make such changes in the constitution of the State as her present and future relations to the world at large may re quire. Until then, it will be the duty of the Exeeutive, as well as all State officers, to continue in the lawful discharge of their functions,confining their actiun to the sphero of Texas only. The Exeeutive tenders his respecta to the gentlemen of the convention, and assures you, gentlemen, individually, of his esteem. Very truljr, Tour obedient servant, SAM HOUSTON. The threatening rcply of the convention to this letter was couchad in the following language : Whereas, A letter bearing date March 6th, 1861, has beeti read before this convention, written by the Exeeutive of this State, addressed to a committee of this body, calling in questior. the power of the convention to do more than submit the ordinance of secession to the people oJ Texas, for their ratifieation or rejection ; and whereas, it is important that thero should be no misunderstanding on this subject ; Resolved, That this convention do now declare that it not only had the power to pass and submit the ordinance of secession, but also that il possesses and will exercise the rigbt on behalf of the people of Texas, to do whatever may be incidental tothf same, and that may benecessary ano proper for the protection of the rights of the people and the detence of the State in the present emergency ; and that it will, as epeedily as practicable, consummate the connec tion of Texas with the provisiona government of the Confedérate States of America whose conatitution has already been ratified by an ordi nance of this convention. Resolved further, That this resolu tion be communicatcd to tho secre tary of this convention to the respec tive departinenta of the State gov ernmeut. The effect of Houston's letter upon the convention is thus described by a correspondent of the Galveston Civ ilian, writing from Austin on the 8tl instant : Gov. Iiouston's comraunication to tlie convention yesterday produced much feeling in that body. Messrs. ürahain, Jeimings and others favored a reference to the coinmitteo of ten, witli instruction6 to answer the alleged misstatemeuts contained in it. Mr. Wiley favored the passing by of the matter in conteinptuous sileiace, and to inetruct the cominittee on constitution to prepare iinmediately au ordiuance requiring the State and county officers to take the oath of allegiance to support the new government and carry out in good faith the ordinaDce of the convention. It is thought tliis course will be pursued to-day. There is a great degrec of fetling here in ïef'erence to this matter. It is thouglit by uuly that the Governor has coinrmssioned several officers undcr the urlitialaw, with a view of raising men for the purposc of resisting the action of the