WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1854
86
west side of the Rio Grande, which order he obeyed. No pledge was ever given to him by the commander-in-chief, or by the Secretary of War, either directly or impliedly, affecting his libera- tion or any other subject. But, sir, as I said, a disgraceful treaty was made, by which, before the troops had cleared the limits of Texas on their retreat, as they were bound to do, Santa Anna was liberated. Green, as I have said, landed about the 1st of June. The President had ordered Santa Anna to be put on board the Brutus, and to be sent to Matamoros or Vera Cruz. Green, with his filibustering propensities, had never seen an enemy, and he had a great appe- tite to see one, particularly if he was a prisoner. He had great stomach for that, I expect. Well, he dashed on board with his brigade, as he called it, seized Santa Anna, in violation of the treaty, brought him on shore, offered him every possible indig- nity, showed him hand-cuffs, made him wave the Texian flag, and "hurrah for Texas." Now, I will prove before I am done that Santa Anna is one of the most magnanimous men in the world. Green did these things in violation of law, in violation of the orders of the Executive, in violation of the faith of a treaty. Because he had a few men whom he took with him, he assumed control. There was a Cabinet powerless, and a treaty violated by this fellow, however improperly entered into. There was the head of a nation brought ashore by this filibuster, detained until he was liberated by the constitutional President the following November, and sent to the United States. This was the outset of Mr. Green in Texas. Green next undertook to march this invincible brigade of two hundred and thirty men in the direction of the enemy; but he heard that the Indians were in the advance of him and easily to be found, and he then turned off at right angles to the left and joined the main army, then under the command of my colleague, robbing as he went, not women's clothes, but women's saddles. He even had the meanness to steal women's saddles. Of what use could they be to a soldier? Well, sir, it would seem that there must be an origin for his dislike to the President, and perhaps I may explain it. A Con- gress had to be elected under the Constitution, and the army were allowed the privilege of voting. This invincible brigade had votes enough to send their general to the Senate from the a1·my as Senator in 1836; and he came. As soon as the Texian Congress met, the subject of reorganization of the army came up. Eight or ten generals, three hundred, and fifty colonels, one hundred
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