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WRITINGS OF S,u.,1 'HOUSTON, 1841
385
you had well nigh been taken by by Almonte as he advanced. Your valor is well understood, your besetting sin was the cause of your delay. You had forgotten a demijohn of brandy at Col. Morgan's house, and were staying until it could be brought to you. This was all that could have detained you so long. ]:{ow, Sir, this is the whole secret of your courage. By night you were safe, and it was at night that you challenged Houston; I have no doubt but what your valour and chivalry were "in the full," and when General Chambers challenged you, they were " in the wane." If they were not in the wane they had to undergo the eclipse of your religion. Fie, upon it Davy; be honest, if you do love Brandy, and don't tell your fibs upon sober men! But I suppose since your obiect is defamation, the truth would not suit your purpose. Now, cibout your honesty. I could inform the public that you had made over all your property to your brother, Judge Burnet of Cincinnati, by way of defrauding just creditors out of their lawful demands against you. This is true, and you pretend that it was done for monies long since advanced to you. ls this ·honest? Has Houston, whom you call the "basest of rascals," ever been guilty of such shameless dishonesty? Now have you not deposited money in the Banks of the United States, that you can flee to whenever you are about to be detecte<;l in your crimes and exposed? You cannot say that you have no money, when you have been drawing a salary of $3,500 a year as Vice President, and as much while acting Secretary of State, and aid de camp to the Secretary of War, (a new kind of appoint- ment) and pay as Commissioner to hold Indian treaties, at $5 per diem. All this you were receiving at one and the same time. Now, just because General Houston called for the information on the subject, ·you called him all kinds of hard names, and wrote eleven numbers of " Publius" against him. As I shall write several numbers 3 addressed to your honor you will allow me to close this communication, with one patriotic anecdote. When the Convention of the first of March, 1836, was in session, you came there and was opposed to the Declaration of Independence, as you always were. You received a "feed of soft corn," and was made President of the Republic of Texas. Now, all this was very nice! But how was it about the time you left home for the Convention - the people whom you had been estranging from their aUegiance, called upon you, to know 1chat course to take: you told them, to ta.ke 110 part, but to remain quiet
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