WRITINGS OF SAM: HOUSTON, 184-2
4.54
ment to furnish the vessels, was bound to meet the requisitions made by the government agent, who was to superintend their building and equipment ;-and, if the failed in this, his bonds were, by the contract, forfeited to the government of Texas. Nor was the agent bound to receive the vessels, unless they were com- pleted agreeably to the contract. They and their outfits were fully completed "to the extent of said contract by Mr. Dawson," 3 as will be seen by reference to a copy of Captain Tod's attesta- tion, marked A, 4 and accompanying this message. It would seem, from the official report made to the Executive at the commencement of the present session of Congress, by the Secretary of War and Navy, that blame ,vould somewhere at- tach, and that the vessels were greatly defective. I refer to a copy of an extract herewith sent, and marked B;• as a part of this communication. I submit these facts to your Honorable Body, for its consid- eration, and without a single comment in relation to the origin or cause of the injury which has resulted to Texas from the defects of an important arm of the national defence.-1 would, however, remark that it is not by any means customary for agents and officers of government to receive the thanks of the nation, unless they have in a preeminent degree rendered service to the country, and where a pecuniary reward would fail in the expression of a nation's admiration and gratitude. Were it other- wise, the precious time of the Representatives of the people would be employed in granting favors so frequently, that they would become cheap in the ear of merit and cease to be an object of patriotic pride and honorable emulation. Sam Houston. 1 Congressional Pa7>e1·s, Sixth Congress, Texas State Library; also, Ex- ecutive Record Book No. 40, p. 29. 2 John Grant Tod, Sr., was born and reared in Kentucky. He was a naval officer who served with distinction in the navies of the United States, Mexico, and the Republic of Texas. He married Abigail Fisher, daughter of James M. West of Lewes, Delaware; moved to Texas, and settled in Harris County, where he died in 1877. His son, John G. Tod, Jr., was the Secretary of State during the administration of Governor Sayres (1901). See McArthur and Wickes, Twenty-Seventh Legislature and State Administration of Texas, 27-28. 3Frederick Dawson, a naval contractor of Baltimore, Maryland, was of great help to Texas following the revolution. (See Lamar_ Pape1·s, I~I, 202 144, 458.) He loaned money and furnished naval supplies on credit. Af(er the annexation of Texas, he tried for many. years to re~o:er some of the money he had loaned Texas. (See Me111-01·1als and Petitions, and
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