WRITIN~S OF SAM HOUSTON, 1841
384
to you. Did you not in 1834, when the rage was about the hun- dred league, and other claims, during the Legislature at Mon- clova, which made such an uproar in the land, give or send, a power of attorney, to a gentleman to obtain you a large q1wntity of land, by grant? You will not deny this! You need not. The power of attorney shall be forth coming, and is not as you suppose destroyed. Now, I feel confident, but for this you would say it was false. Davy, you can't deny it. Now, you know these are ihe same character of claims, which the convention passed laws .against - yet you are no "LAND SPECULATOR." Some peo- ple are so smart, that they are never caught, and others are just smart enough to insinuate their immaculate selves into trouble, ?,nd then employ all their time and scribbling ability, in trying to divert public observation from their very ricliculous catastrophe. And, Sir, no man in Texas possesses a larger share of that agreeable tact and talent, than the honest and sober gentleman, to whom I have the distinguished honor to dedicate my very pro- found respects and homage. This, Sir, you may call patriotism! But will you say it was patriotism in you to enter into an obliga- tion with Dr. Whiting, who resided near you on the Bay, for the purpose of securing your property in the event of Santa Anna's success! Did you not give him a power of attorney, to claim all your property if Santa Anna overrun the country, and expelled those opposed to his usurpation? You are aware that Dr. 'Whit- ing, at the same time gave you a power of attorney to be used by you if the Texians succeeded in defeating Santa Anna? Thus, you were to act as mutual friends, depending upon contingencies. The Doctor says that you deceived him, and that as soon as you were elected President, that you deserted the party. You are aware that Dr. Whiting pursuing the policy settled uvon between you and himself at one time did while Santa Anna was on the San Jacinto, take him butter and other things, intended to con- ciliate him, for at that time there was no hope that Texas could be saved. You, even you, the heroic Davy G. Burnet, had fled to Galveston, and had Col. Morgan's vessel, the " Flash," in readi- ness on first sight of the enemy, to set sail for the "land of our Fathers." Yes, Sir, you had ladies' trunks and children thrown on shore, so as to make room for yourself and fa11iily. These things can't be denied if truth be told. But you will make a great flourish about your valor at Morgan's Point, or new Wash- ington, where you we1·e so brave and reckless of danger, that
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