TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
470
my friends and myself to address you on the subject of the Resolu- tion48 passed by one branch of the Texian Congress, wherein I am branded for "faithless, .cowardly conduct," & charged with having "a;ssurri,ed the- office of "Government Agent," and of having "inglor- iously fied from Texas," I make no apology therefor- but shall commence, by stating that the whole is FALSE, and that the course pursued by the House, in CHARGING, CONDEMNING and EXECUTING an individual without an opportunity for defence, is unparallelled. Texas has never had a more devoted supporter than myself, and my whole conduct for five years, will sustain me in the assertion.-That my enemies were at work in Texas, I have ·been for some time aware, but little did I expect such a result from their efforts. , . Since my location in this City, I have been engaged in sending vessels to Texas, and inducing individuals to emigrate; and as I was the Agent for a Line of Packets, I presume I was at perfect liberty to call my office the "'l'exas Agency." When- ever the question has been put to me, '' if I was the Agent of the Govt" I have always answered in the negative--and have never, on any occasion, assumed what did not of right belong to me. As an evidence of what I have done for Texas-I will beg leave to state, that on my return to this Qountry, I procured and sent to the Agent in New Orleans, at my own expense, a quantity of Military Caps, Knapsacks, Cartridge Boxes, &c. raised a Company of thirty men in the City of New York, was elected their Commander, purchased a vessel for $3000 and expended $1500 more in repairs, with the intention of presenting her to the Government- but after advancing a portion of the money, was obliged from the pressure of the times, to abandon the expedition and sacrifice all that I had paid, not being enabled to procure the balance. Having involved myself in pecuniary difficulties, it was necessary that I should remain here and arrange my affairs, or leave for Texas and be branded as having fled from my Creditors-I chose the former, and have been constantly engaged in advancing the true interests of your Republic, in this quarter- In proof of which I refer you to the accompanying Letters from gentlemen whose names are familiar to you. As the Congress of Texas have refused to accept of the Map I had presented them, and left it subject to my order- and if you do not consider me guilty and degraded by the course they have adopted, you will please accept the same as an evidence of my regard for your talents and virtues.-If you should decide otherwise, which I trust not, you will please order it to be disposed of, after erasing my name, and the proceeds given to any Benevolent Association you may select. Notwithstanding the attempt made to destroy me, so conscious am I of the rectitude of my conduct, that ..The report of ,the committee of the House and their resolution will be found In the House Journal, pp. 353-354, regular session, Nov. 5, 1838, third Congress.
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