167
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1837
claim it, no Treasury can meet the demands. I will not sanction it. As to Capt[ai] n Clendenning, he was not furloughed for me1·itorious services, and the Executive is not particularly partial to him for any services, which he has rendered to Texas or to the Post of Galveston. When the Executive has been assured, that he was never present at Roll Call, or Parade whilst on the Island. He was ordered there, and appointed with the hope that he would establish discipline and maintain subordination. Both of which it is believed he materially injured, and for this reason . he was furloughed, and for none other. Recent matters have called the attention of the Executive, from which he is disposed to believe, that he has been an unworthy member of the Army, and ought to be subject to Executive discretion. When on fur- lough he assumed the command of the Post of Velasco and left the same without orders, which acts were contrary to all sub- ordination and Military Regulations. The first, (Lieutenant Chamberlain) has nothing to complain of in being dropped from notice, and the second, (Captain Clendennin) in being dishonor- ably dismissed. In all such cases, so long as the Executive loves his country, and he has the power, he will exercise it, although he has not yet done so, and therefore with the enclosed Docu- ments, he is bound to pronounce the petition unfounded, and such as ought not to claim the serious consideration of the Honorable Senate. Sam Houston. 1 E. W. Winkler (ed.), Secret Jom·nals of the Senate, Republic of Texas, 1896-1845, 96-97. "Messages of the Presidents," Congressional Papers, Texas State Library. 2 0n December 2, 1837, William H. Wharton introduced a resolution, ap- pointing a committee to wait on President Houston and ask his reasons for striking Captain Adam Clendennin's and Lieutenant Horace P. Cham- berlain's names from the rolls of the army. The 1·esolution was adopted (See E. W. Winkler (ed.), Secret .Journals of the Senate, Repi,bl-ic of Texas, 1896-1845, p. 95). The letter above gives Houston's answer to the inquiry. Subsequent pages of the Secret Jou1-nals of the Sena.to, etc., pp. 98, 100, 104, deal with the records of these men, and Houston's action concerning them. Ultimately, the Senate confirmed Houston's dismissal of Clendennin, but not of Chamberlain, because of extenuating circumstances. It seems that Chamberlain had been on a furlough because of eye trouble. He had had to have an eye removed, and had written for an extension of his fur- lough, but the ship bearing his letter had been shipwrecked, therefore his letter did not reach the proper authorities.
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