WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1854
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rights of men, ordered a court martial to assemble for the trial of those charged with mutiny on board the San Antonio. "On the 10th of April, 1843, while under suspension and arrest, disregarding the laws and authorities of this Government, and in contempt of the laws of nations, you assumed to exercise the functions of commander of the navy of Texas, and sailed, to cruise upon the high seas with armed vessels, under the flag of this nation, which was piracy. "On the 26th of April, 1843, with matchless disregard of the laws of God and man, and condemning the lives of men, you proceeded to execute the sentence of the said illegal court-martial upon the persons of Antonio Laudois, James Hudgins, Isaac Allen, and William Simpson, by hanging them at the foreyard of the ship Austin for one hour, and committing their bodies untimely to the deep. This was nmrder. "For all these enumerated and unprecedented acts of enormity, you are hereby dishonorably discharged from the naval service of the Republic of Texas. By order of the President. G. W. Hill, Secretary of War and Marine." [Mr. Badger. What is the date of that?] July 9th, just after his return. After what I have already said, it may seem superfluous, but I will read, for the informa- tion of the Senate, the veto of Mr. Jones, President of the Republic of Texas in 1845: Executive Department, Washington, Texas, June 27, 1845. "To the honomble the Senate: "The Executive returns to the House in which it originated, a bill to be entitled "A joint resolution for the relief of Post Captain E. W. Moore," without his approval and signature; for the fol- lowing among the reasons : "Captain Moore, it appears, was arrested from his command by my predecessor, upon charge of insubordinate conduct and defiance of the laws and authorities of this country, and dis- obedience of orders in the spring of 1843. Subsequently, a court martial to investigate these charges was applied for by him and granted. The court, after a patient and fair investigation of his offenses, for upwards of seventy days, found him guilty in manner and form as charged, of the following specifications, viz:
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