WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1854
37
it was passed: [the letter which Houston here quoted is printed above in Volume Ill, 336-338.] That was written by the President on appointing the commis- sioners to carry out the secret act, because it was believed that the navy of Texas was in peril. Obedience was not rendered. On the contrary, the Commodore shipped men, and went to sea. Everything that was calculated to embarrass the country was done. But, sir, at the same time, the proclamation referred to was put in his possession, and was intended for his government and control. It is in these words: [See above, Volume III, 338-340.] That [proclamation] was placed in the possession of Com- modore Moore, on the arrival of the commissioners at New Orleans; and corresponding orders were given to the next senior officer to assume the command of the navy, and to bring it forthwith to Galveston. The officer second in command, receiving the orders, cooperated with the Commodore, and in cor- respondence with the commissioners-for they, too, had become warlike, and were cherishing glorious propensities for distinction -disregarded the orders of the President to them as his·special appointees for the accomplishment of the purpose, united with Commodore E. W. Moore, and abstained from publishing the proclamation which I have just read. The Commodore disre- garded the orders given to him to sail to Galveston, but pre- tended to go there, and at the mouth of the: Mississippi receiving~ as he asserts, the intelligence that he could take the whole fleet of Mexico, he pressed sail by GalYeston on to Campeachy. There was glory; there was renown; there was everything, all counter- acting a sense of. obedience, and the obligation imposed by an oath. He sailed; but under what circumstances did he sail? He had been ordered home. The orders had been reiterated. He had been suspended ; 0 and he was ordered into arrest. What did he do under those circumstances? He ordered a court-martial for the trial of several sailors· charged with misconduct. The court- martial convened and sentenced them, and the sentences ·were approved by him when he was under arrest himself. I will read for the information of the Senate, a description of that scene. It is one new in character, and unheard of [in] the annals of maritime or military history. That the Senate may be sensible of the circumstances which occurred under the disobedience of the orders given to the Commodore, I will read his report in
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