Excerpt from Message of Acting Governor Henry Smith, November 16, 1835 - Page 2
4. I recommend the granting of “letters of
Marque and reprisal” by doing which, we
can not only prevent invasion by sea,
but we could blockade the ports of Mexico,
and destroy her commerce and annoy
and harrass [sic] the enemy more in a few
months, than by many years War,
Carried on within our own limits. My
own mind is satisfied, that the whole
of our maratime [sic] operation can be
carried on by foreign capital and
foreign enterprise. Already application
for commissions have been made. [T]hey
are willing to take the hazard as such
afford them every encouragement.
5. Provisions have already been made
for the organization of a corps of Rangers,
and I concieve [sic] it highly important that
you should place a bold, energetic and
enterprising Commander at their head.
The corps will [be] well managed[,] will prove
a safeguard to our hitherto unprotected
frontier inhabitants and prevent the
depredations of those Savage hordes that
infest our borders. I concieve [sic] this very
important at the moment, as it is
known that the Mexican authorities
have endeavored to engage them in
a war with us.
6. Volunteers from foreign countries
are daily reaching our Shores and
enlisting in our cause. These gallant . . .
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Excerpt from Message of Acting Governor Henry Smith, November 16, 1835. Records of the Provisional Government, 1835-1836, Texas Secretary of State. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.