The surrender of the Government property in Texas.
The surrender by Gen. Twiggs to the State of Texas of the United States Government property within its limits has been published. The value of the property is estimated at $1,300,000. A Washington dispatch says: ‘ The dispatches received yesterday by the Secretary of War, informing him that General Twiggs had surrendered the military property of the General Government to the State of Texas, was from the Commissioner of Subsistence, dated at New Orleans. He adds that, as a boon, the use of the Government means of transportation was allowed to take the Federal troops to the seaboard, and they were permitted to take with them three or four pieces of cannon and their side arms. ’ The Secretary also received this morning documents from Texas showing that as early as the 7th of February General Twiggs was entering into negotiations with the Texans for the surrender of the military property. Col. Waite was several weeks ago appointed to succeed General Twiggs as Chief of the Military Department of Texas, but it appears that he had not reached there at the time of Gen. Twiggs' surrender. The following is the copy of a circular issued by General Twiggs at the office of the United States Army in Texas:Headquarters Department of Texas,
San Antonio, Feb. 7, 1861.
Sir
--I am commanded by the Commanding General of the Department to address you as follows: ‘
The Secession Act has passed the Convention of the State, to take effect on the 2d day of March next.
Nothing has been heard at these headquarters as to the disposition of the troops.
The General Commanding has made five applications for orders, on intimation from Washington, as to what is to be done, but has received no answer. ’
You will therefore continue to do duty as usual, until further orders, but prepare to move at a short notice, reducing the baggage as much as possible.
If the General Commanding knew at this time how the troops are to be disposed of, you would be informed, but he does not; he will however, remain with them until something is done, and attend to their comfort as far as circumstances will permit.
Sir
The Brownsville correspondent of the New Orleans Crescent, in his letter of the 7th inst. says of the United States troops there and at other points near by, and numbering some 400 well drilled men: ‘ Texas needs an army just about as strong as that now in her territory, and I think it would be the best thing if she adopted Uncle Sam's contracts, and accepted the forces in this State under General Twiggs into her service. ’ The troops at this place and on the river have not been paid up recently, and are in a sad state of discontent, if I am to believe general report. Their situation is peculiar, for even if they continue in their present service there is no telling when they will be paid; and if they leave it, they are here without a dollar, and they do not know what penalties might follow them. They are men capable of reading, of good thinking faculties, in receipt of the newspapers, and they would be a remarkable class if they could keep from forming conclusions as to the present crisis. Many of them are Southern men, others are favorable to the South, and but few of them are attached to the North. It is impossible to make such men machines for carrying out the follies of old Scott. The garrison has been expecting to receive marching orders by every steamer, but, as yet, nothing has been done. I suppose that the Government does not intend to call the troops away from here, for this force would be ineffective elsewhere to accomplish any great purpose; and if the United States Government intends to use force, it would be the most sensible idea to have these troops here, where coercion will be as necessary as elsewhere, and proceed at once to call out the militia. Moreover, it is decidedly doubtful if the force on this river, at present, can be moved away without the men are paid; and if all the reports are true, Uncle Sam has not the necessary amount of spoonfuls to do this with. It is very well settled now, that if the present Federal force is turned over to the State by Gen. Twiggs, at San Antonio, most of the men will immediately enlist under the Texas banner, and we shall have the same protection as ever. If not, it has been officially notified that Texas Rangers will be in the field at a moment's notice; and two or three companies of Rangers on this frontier, under Ben McCulloch, would soon produce grand results.
[by Telegraph.]
Galveston, Feb. 22.
--The Executive Committee, now in session at Galveston, have received the very gratifying intelligence from Thomas J. Devine, S. A. Maverick and P. N. Luckett, commissioners from the Committee of Public Safety to treat with Gen. Twiggs at San Antonio, advising of their successful efforts in behalf of Texas in obtaining a surrender of the public property in this military department, and from the United States Army.
This result was accomplished by the superior diplomatic skill of the commissioners, and the admirable military conduct of Benjamin McCulloch, and is eminently successful.
The United States army is allowed to march to the coast by the articles of agreement and to take with them their side-arms, facilities for transportation and subsistence, as well as two batteries of flying artillery of four guns each.
The transportation means are to be surrendered, and left upon arrival at the coast by this treaty, without one drop of blood shed, and without sullying in the least the honor of the United States Army.
Texas comes into possession of over thirteen hundred thousand dollars' worth of public property, principally consisting of munitions of war. 