WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1854
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1842, and again in September of that year. At this critical time Commodore Moore was not on our coasts to cooperate with our land forces, or to carry troops and land them in the rear of the enemy. He was never on the coast of Texas to render any efficient aid to her in her necessities. And yet he claims great merit for having achieved renown, for having added to the honor and glory. of that Republic. It all resolves itself into dodging that sixty-two pound Paixhan shot. That is the most memorable exploit-the only one of note performed by him. He also alleges that the Executive of Texas improperly and illegally deprived him of money to which he was entitled. He knew well that there was not a dollar in the treasury to pay him, and the appropriation was made contingent on there being money applicable to the purpose. In his communication to Senor· Jose Cardenas, he says: "I would have been at sea long since if my Government could have furnished the means. I have been furnished with all it could raise, and am short of the amount named above." There he convicts himself, notwithstanding his repeated as- severations that the President of the Republic of Texas had corruptly, despotically and unlawfully detained the appropria- tions made by the Government, when the fact was that they were contingent upon the means in the treasury. Mr. President, I said something of the associates with whom he was at Yucatan. To be sure, it is an old saying that "birds of a feather flock together" ; but I am sorry to think that any one who ever sailed under the flag of T"exas, no matter what may have been his contumacy, his disobedience, or disloyalty, should be thrown into such deplorable association as is represented by Santo Mendez, Governor of Yucatan. The Governor, in a very affectionate communication to the Commodore, says: "But if you deem it more proper to come on to Sisal, or Campeachy, you should gather and bring with you, before abandoning Laguna, all the money to be found in the custom- house, the munitions of war and provisions, in addition to which, you should capture and bring with you the persons of the Collector of Customs, Don Jose del Rosario Gil, Don Joaquin Campo, and the Ecclesiastical Vicar, all of whom are most superlative rogues." I have no doubt, sir, he told the truth. They were "most superlative rogues"; and yet a Texan commodore was in asso- ciation and confederation with such men! Sir, it is deplorable to think of it. But to show that he threw off all responsibility to
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