35
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1854
the 12th of December, following; and we find by the records, that on the 15th of that month the navy was recalled forthwith, and ordered to the port of Galveston. The orders ought to have reached the navy in ten or twelve days. A pilot boat was dispatched to carry the orders to Commodore Moore, the commander; but that vessel, owing to peculiar influences at Galveston, or some other circumstances, was not permitted to reach Campeachy until the 10th of March following. On the first of May, I think it was, the fleet returned, having been absent from December, receiving the monthly stipend of $8,000, which was not accounted for. In the mean time, the Government being without resources, and money having depreciated to ten cents on the dollar, the former issue of the treasury notes had been suspended, and for their redemp- tion a new currency of $200,000 was created, called the exchequer bill, and more than $50,000 of it was never at one time to be issued from the treasury. Well, sir, the vessels returned. An appropriation of $97,000 had been made for the purpose of paying off the seamen and supplying the navy with what aids the Govern- ment could give, so soon as the money should be in the treasury to meet the appropriations, which never occurred until the annex- ation of Texas. About $18,000 was appropriated for the purpose of laying up the vessels in ordinary, or for being applied in the most beneficial manner in sustaining the navy. On his return, the Commodore represented that by going to New; Orleans he could command ample means to keep the navy at sea. About the 10th of March he sailed from Galveston, and never returned until, I think it was May, 1843. From time to time his promises were made. The $18,000 were advanced for the purpose of aiding and assisting the navy to get to sea. A proclamation of blockade had been made, and it was the design of the Government of Texas, if possible, to annoy the commerce of Mexico, and place upon it such restrictions as to coerce a peace. But the navy remained secure in the port of New Orleans. It was apprehended the intention was not to return. The imprac- ticability of getting to sea had been ascertained, and an order was given for the return of the squadron from New Orleans to Galveston, because the $18,000 appropriated for the navy had been granted, the President of the Republic first refusing to permit it to be in the hands of the commodore for disbursement, but at last granting it, on the condition that it was not to be disposed of, or any portion of it even hypothecated, for less than ninety days. He refused to give it because he believed it to be insincere; but his cabinet around him implored him to grant
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