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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1826
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designed to march, when orders to that effect are given. The detail itself is not an order to niarch, but only a notification to those who are to be -in 1·eadi-ness. Sir, on this subject of yielding the etiquette of military rank, I can refer to the most illustrious example: An individual who has been charged with high-handed and overbearing measures- who has been erroneously charged with the violation of the constitu- tion of his country- who yielded this point of military etiquette, whether expressed or implied, in the regulation of the army. When the militia of Tennessee, under the command of General Jackson, formed a junction with the troops of Georgia, under the command of General Pinckney, in the Creek Nation, General Jackson was in command of a victorious army. His commission was of a date prior to that of General Pinckney, and of equal rank. They were both major generals-Jackson of the militia, Pinckney of the regular army. Did General Jackson squabble about military etiquette? No, Sir. Though the laurels of victory luxurated on his brow, and he was the chief of many battles, without a word, he recognized the order of General Pinckney, and obeyed his command. He sheathed that sword so often drawn in his country's cause, and never drawn in vain. He returned home, accompanied by his brave followers, and met the thanks of a grateful country. Was he degraded? He submitted to the laws of his country- he had no scruples of military etiquette. But it is said in the case of Massachusetts, that there was no law for this requisition- that the order was a request, and not a law. Sir, I ask again, was not the declaration of war a law? Was the State of Massachusetts an exception to the operation of that law? Was it a partial law? Or was it intended to be gen- eral in its operations? Were not the representatives of every State of the Union present upon this floor, when the was was declared by the Congress of the United States? Was the repre· sentation partial? No, Sir. Then, how could Massachusetts claim an exemption from a proportionate participation in this war? She could not do it. It was a law of the United States. It was ratified by the voice of a majority of the American People; and it matters not in what language the Secretary of War might have couched his order; for I deny that he had any right to convert it into a mere request. It was his duty to issue orders, under the laws of Congress. But we are told that all t_he regular troops in Massachusetts were marched to the Northern Frontier. If so were they not
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