63
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1854
and I shall have nothing to do with the Commodore, if I can help it, until he has settled with this gentleman. This gentleman, who talks very emphatically, has been a captain of rangers, and is said to be a brave man. I know nothing about him; only I know his standing as a captain of rangers, and a man of note in Texas. After Commodore Moore had charged him with many things, and was compelled to write an apologetic letter, Captain Grumbles goes on to say: "As to the 'gallant Commodore,' I will merely say, that he has brought his duplicity to such systematic pe1·fection that Judas himself, would 'blush with shame' at his comparative insig- nificance in the art, if he could again be placed on earth, and be brought in competition with this 'valiant knight of the marline- spike.' "Commodore Moore has borne the reputation of a brave and honorable man, but I know him to be an ignominious dastar<l, a treacherous scoundrel, and a remorseless liar. "I hold myself personally accounta.ble fo1· all that I say, and I am always ready and willing to confront Commodore E. V-l. Moore, and reiterate in his presence, what is here published to the world.
"This man hath dipped his tongue so oft and deep In the putrid pool of perfidy, that his foul breath Doth fill the air with stench."
"John J. Grumbles. 13 City of Austin, May 3, 1848." The Commodore is thus estimated by an individual who knows him well-one whose position in T·exas is equal to his own. Captain Grumbles is a fighting man. It is his profession. It is not my disposition to interfere between these parties. I will leave the Commodore, in all personal matters, to Captain Grumbles, who is most competent, and he avers, most willing, to confront his adversary. Having said this much, I am done. 1 Conu1·essional Globe, A1JPendix, 1853-1854, 1st Sess., 33d Cong., pp. 1080- 1086. 2 Edwin Ward Moore's letter to Senator J. A. Pearce, of Maryland- apparently the original-is to be found in the "Dienst Collection," in The University of Texas Library. It is dated, National Hotel, Washington, D.C., March 28, 1853. 3 John Birdwell was Attorney General at this time. •See E. W. Winkler (ed.), Secret Jownia.ls of the Senate, Republic of Texas, 1896-1845, pp. 78-83, passim.
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