WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1854
98
in the service at the time of the annexation. Some two or three years previous to the annexation, I think, Commodore Moore was dishonorably discharged from the service of Texas, for flagrant offenses, and none of the remarks made in the speech applied to his case. Sir, the Senator has spoken of the resolutions of the Texas Legislature. We know how easy it is to get resolutions passed in the Legislature adverse to the Executive, particularly when they go to impugn his acts. It is very easy to get such things upon ex parte representation. There were gentlemen who emigrated to Texas after the turmoils of the revolution, and they were unpre- pared to investigate these matters, and would of course adopt any resolution, or sign any recommendation, that was handed to them. They had no disposition to investigate the matters, and I do not think, therefore, that the resolutions to which the Senator has referred, help the case at all. The Senator also referred to the finding of the court-martial in the case of C0mmodore Moore. He admits that it is conclusive on the subject of disobedience of orders; but he asks who does not disobey orders? I have no doubt Commodore Moore thought it was a perfectly immaterial matter. He was sworn to obey orders, but he did not choose to do it. His obligation was of very light import, and seemed to have no moral or binding force upon him. But, sir, that offense of. disobedience of orders embraced, piracy, murder, and treason, all at once. Yes, sir, that act of disobedience of orders, with one fell swoop, embraced the whole catalogue of criminalities charged upon him. Did he not disobey the order by which he was directed to sail to Galveston? He dis- obeyed four successive orders. He was suspended from command. He was ordered into arrest. Two commissioners were sent, with a proclamation, denouncing him as a pirate, if he dared to sail with the flag of Texas upon the high seas; and in the face of this he ordered a court-martial, and by it men were tried and executed. Could he rightly do it under such circumstances? No, sir. When homicide is perpetuated, except by the sanction of the law, and by the hand of the proper appointee, it is murder. It may not always be murder technically, but it is murder morally. Thus he stands before the world. We are told, further, that he threw his private fortune into the scale for Texas. What was it? A mere pittance. To be sure, there had been a defalcation here of a few hundred dollars. Where did he take his private fortune? When he was a delinquent to this country, did he munificently bestow it upon Texas? Sir, he
Powered by FlippingBook