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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1354·
General Sommerville, when ordered to the interior of Texas, had , united to maraud upon Mexico, had crossed the Rio Grande with- out authority of law, and in positive violation of orders, had taken possession of Mier, and that a battle had ensued? That was tell- ing Santa Anna all. It was telling that this was an unauthorized, marauding, filibustering expedition, degrading to the honor of Texas, and weakening the means of her defense. Sir, it was the withdrawal of two hundred and sixty-one gallant men from the service of Texas. It was a waste of the arms of Texas to that extent. She had not credit; she had not means; her reputation consisted in her prudence, and not in her filibustering. Her security consisted in acting defensively, and not offensively. This individual was prominent in that transaction, which tended to bring discredit on her. It will also be recollected that this iden- tical Thomas Jefferson Green is the one·who rendered it neces- sary, some years ago, for me to repel a charge published in a card against me by a member of the other House, and required at my hands a personal explanation upon this floor. 0 In the course of my remarks on that occasion, I brought up the records of the War Department for forty years back,_and proved that the charge was a gross slander. I did not reflect upon the member of the other House who gave currency to the charge, but I exculpated myself by irrefutable testimony. A Senator afterwards rose upon the floor, and said those statements as to my having been a de- faulter, and dismissed by Mr. Calhoun from the Indian depart- ment, were derived from General Thomas Jefferson Green, of Texas. It will be recollected that that was the excuse given by the member from South Carolina for his attack upon me; and I have no doubt it was true. That circumstance will be remembered by Senators. I was not aware then that this was an additional calumny to those contained in this book, and filed in the library. It seems that it was not published to the world, but kept merely for the purpose of private retail by this distinguished individual, who after all his gl01-ious achievements in defense of Texas, after many "years of the prime of his life spent in her defense," and after the excitement of the times had passed away, leaving the people to a cool and proper appreciation of his valuable services, and after the annexation of Texas to the United States, ran for Congress, and was indorsed by the votes of forty-three citizens, in a district composed of as many counties This was the estimate set upon the services of this gallant and chivalrous Thomas Jeffer- son Green by the people of Texas - -
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