WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1835
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It is a most important office to the order of the Army; I have the honor to refer to the Regulations of the U. States army com- piled by Maj Cross Page 30. -136 & 120-121- The General commanding, is supposed in camp to have many, and diversified duties to perform, and in the present war, many intricate & important questions must arise, growing out of our peculiar situation of our relations to Mexico, as well as, our rela- tions Generally to the law of nations. In the Army every thing to be executed well must be executed promptly. Hence the necessity of a Gentleman ·who, can instantly respond to the Gen- erals requirements on subjects to which his investigation cannot be extended, without embarrassment to his other duties. Sam Houston (Rubric) [ Addressed] : To Colonel D. C. Barrett Present [ Endorsed] : Sam Houston Letter San Felipe 11 Dec 1835. 1 lfan·ett Letters (originals), The University of Texas Library. PROCLAMATION TO THE CITIZENS OF TEXAS 1 . . Head Quarters, Washington, Texas, December 12, 1835. Citizens of Tex~s, Your situation is peculiarly calculated to call forth all your manly energies. Under the Republican constitution of Mexico\ you were invited to Texas, then a wilderness. You have re- claimed and rendered it a cultivated country. You solemnly swore to suport the Constitution and its laws. Your oaths are yet in- violate. In accordance with them, you have fought with the liberals against those who sought to overthrow the Constitu- tion, in 1832 3 , when the present usurper 4 was the champion of liberal principles in Mexico. Your obedience has manifested your integrity. You have witnessed with pain the convulsions of the interior, and a succession of usurpations. You have ex- perienced, in silent grief, the expulsion of your members from the State Congress 5 • You have realized the horrors of anarchy and the dictation of military rule. The promises made to you have not been fulfilled. Your memorialsu for the redress of grievances have been disregarded; and the agents 7 you have sent to Mexico have been imprisoned for years, without enjoying the rights of trial, agreeable to law. Your constitutional executive has been deposed by the bayonets of a mercenary soldiery while
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