WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184,1
379
called,) of Columbia, then on duty at Galveston, that you, Davy G. Burnet, had concealed in the sand a demijohn of fine French Brandy, as he states: he was apprehensive that if the fact was ascertained the President would incur the penalty announced by your order; and believing it no crime, to seize upon articles contraband of temperance cind sobriety; the good old General out of the sheer kindness to you, Davy G. Burnet, had your brandy privately taken away, and shared your good liquor with the soldiers, very much to their good cheer and gratification. You, then, Judge Burnet, found yourself in an awkward predicament, for an investigation of the matter would have only led to your exposure. Did General Houston ever allow liquor in his army? Even his worst enemies say he did not, until the President ad interim and his Cabinet went up from the Island to San Jacinto, and you permitted it to be brought into the camp without stint, and you, Sir, used it without restriction. And at night you certainly did enlarge your sphere of self-complacency, if it were possible for you to feel more self important than all your actions and movements would indicate. You swelled to a most conse- quential degree; and really the collar of your shirt, from con- nection with your imagination, I presume, out-topped your ears, while your step was as lofty and aimless, too, as that of a blind horse! Was there any liquor in this? It appeared so to those who dared to question the indomitable " sobriety" of the illustrio11s he1·0 Davy G. Burnet - even some of the soldiers facetiously remarked that the letter "G" in your name stood for " Grog." But as this number will be appropriated to your most promi- nent characteristic, that of "sobriety," I will trace you to one incident of your career, so prone to "momlity." Did you not originate a society called the "Lynchburg Temperance Society?" And did not a vessel enter the port of Galveston while Mr. Fisher was Custom House officer under the Mexican authority; and when the vessel was seized did not you sanction the seizure and take sides with the Mexicans against the Americans who were opposed to the act? Yes, you did, Sir, you did until you were informed that Colonel Morgan had shipped on board the vessel at New Orleans, a demijohn of good French Brandy, labelled " To the President of the Lynchburg Temperance So- ciety," which happened to be your honorable self - then, you became clamorous about the release of the vessel - and protested lustily against oppression, usurpation, and all matters, so far as they went to prevent your getti11g the Brandy. Oh, Temperance!
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