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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1854
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in open violation of the constitution, dipped his hand into the public chest." Sir, his marauding expedition, and the piratical expedition to Yucatan by Moore, greatly embarrassed the condition of Texas, and delayed her annexation to the United States. In disregard of law and the authorities of the country, these men undertook to judge of the relations of Texas, when all the complication of diplomatic relations had to be conducted by the head of the Republic. They did not seek to act on his teachings and instruc- tions, but went upon their own hook. But, speaking again of the President of Texas, Green says: "The Texas Executive had commissioners beyond the Rio Grande, entering into a disgraceful and treasonable armistice with Mexico." "The infamous agency President Houston had in the murder of our countrymen in Mexico." "Can it be possible that President Houston has a friend so blinded in his party zeal as not to know that Commodore Moore and the whole of his crew would have been shot, had they, by any chance of war, fallen into the hands of the Mexicans, after Presi- dent Houston's proclamation of piracy against him? Yet the Mier case is one in point, with this difference, that they were already in the hands of the Mexicans, and it suited General Hous- ton's policy to have them killed off more secretly, and under some pretense of mercy." Commodore Moore read the proclamation here referred to against piracy before he ran off to Yucatan with the vessels of Texas. He saw the proclamation and read it; and it was a subter- fuge, after it was published in the papers and went to him, for him to attempt to screen himself from the consequences; but, sir, I must go on with these beautiful extracts: "But President Houston, in the unchecked practice of every political enormity, can do so (murder) by the regiment and fleet, without punishment." This, sir, concludes the beautiful extracts which I shall read from the book of this verdanf historian, General T. Jefferson Green. Now, who is Thomas Jefferson Green? It is very impor- tant that a witness's character should be known in court. It is proper to sustain his character for credibility, in order to show that he may be believed; and if he is a man of good character, his testimony ought to influence the jury; and if he is the reverse, it is a matter for the jury to take into consideration. Sir, I will not go back to the antecedents of this Thomas Jefferson Green
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