169
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1850
ought to be visited on the offender, and not on the inferior execu- tive officer, who executes but the commands of his superior. Sir, there has been an unfortunate prejudice entertained on the part of the Executive-whether as a commanding general in the field or as the Executive of the nation under the Constitu- tion-against the State which I have the honor in part to repre- sent. The people of that State have been unwarrantably assailed, traduced, and defamed by the present Executive of the nation when a general in the field. If I we:re not sustained by incontestable authority, I would scorn to impute to any high functionary of this Government aught that was unworthy of his station, or of the high position which he occupies; but, in this case, I am fully sustained in every word I say, as I will show by recourse to testimony stronger than the mere assertion of a political opponent, that will carry conviction to the mind of every candid man who is disposed to canvass or discuss truth when it is presented to him. On the 29th of March, previous to the war with Mexico, when he occupied a position on the banks of the Rio Grande, as com- mander of the army of occupation, and before one blow was struck, what does the Executive say in reference to the Texans? Not one of them, up to that hour, had ever been placed under his command; and not a solitary corps or individual of them had he then ever seen ranged under his banner; and yet what does he say of them? In reference to -the critical position of the army, as he then supposed it to be, he said: "Under this state of things I. must again and urgently call your attention to the necessity of speedily sending recruits to this army... The militia of Texas are so remote from the border ... that we cannot depend upon their aid." Sir, he has assumed the responsibility of defaming the char- acter of men, who, to say the least of them, had never given the least occasion for such an imputation as this-men who would have rallied to his standard in a moment, if he had given the least intimation to them-men who would have periled every- thing in defence of their territory-men who, in their recollection of former deeds, would have offered up libations of their heart's blood in vindication of the honor of the flag of that Union with which they had become incorporated, and to which the bright lustre of their own lone star had been added. Yet, he says the army was in a position where it could not depend upon them! When, I ask, had they ever been inefficient or delinquent in time.
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