WRITINGS OF SA:M HOUSTON, 1841
381
for your honest and patriotic course. But first, I will remind you that you made requisitions, when you were "President Ad Interim," upon Hall & Bryan of New Orleans, for Brandy, and other private stores, which you had charged to account of the Republic. This you did, and because the Brandy did not please you, you wrote to them a severe rebuke, and afterwards made an apology to them. You will not deny this! Do not the accounts of supplies furnished you at the Island show various items of champaigne, and other stores; for instance, Raisins, and other goodies: and charged to the public account, as the records of the Second Auditor's office will show. These facts will not be contradicted by any man of veracity, but you may do it. Now, was it ever heard that the Government paid for the private stores of the President? Never, unless the present incumbent, or Davy G. Burnet. Houston paid for his own! and out of his salary he lived in a miserable hut , or cabin, until two or three months before his time expired, while Presidents now live in fine houses. An the Vice President, when the duty of President devolved upon him, rose in the Chair of the Senate, and begged for the addition of Six Thousand Five Hundred Dollars, to be added to his salary. The Senate, in pity, gave it to Poor Davy- Sleepy Davy- tho' he had never spent one cent for the Republic. This is your patriotic Chief- this is " Sober Davy- this is "honest" Davy. This is all true, and thus goes the people's money. But this is not all- because Gen. Houston opposed the measure in the House, inasmuqh as the Constitution prohibited the increase of any officer's salary while he was in office, it was alledged by Davy's friends, " that it was not intended to increase his salary; but the intention was to make a donation of $ 6,500 to Davy because he cried in the Senate- while crying Pov- erty - Poverty, I am am so poor- and screwing up his mouth. Let those who think him poor, look at the Auditor's books, and see what cash he has down and then compare it with his expenses and his services. His Brandy was purchased by the people's money; so that the heaviest item, fell on the people. If you, sir, should have money given to yo1t, I would thank you to show some man, who did not as well deserve it!!! You were an enemy to the achievement of our Liberty, and Independence, as I will show - and you now secretly hate every man who was anxious for, and aided in its accomplishment.
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