176
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
To MIDDLETON T. JOHNSON 1 Executive Department, Austin, Texas, Nov. 3rd, 1860.
Colonel M. T. Johnson Sir: Your letter from Belknap of the 14th of October has been received; in which I notice the remarks used by you, "full and discretionary power over it" alluding to the expedition authorized under your command. The "full and discretionary power" was understood to arise from the fact that your command would be so remote from the seat of government that every contingency could not be anticipated by the Executive, and that the "dis- cretionary power" given was to be exercised in the accomplish- ment of the object for which it was designated, and that you would remain subject to the orders of the Executive. The power given to you extended mainly to the preparation necessary and preliminary to the expedition, and it was also understood that so soon as the troops could be marched to Belknap and there organized, the expedition was to move promptly and to prosecute the campaign until it should terminate and the troops be then disbanded. To the accomplishment of these objects the Executive lent all his energies and every facility within his control was afforded. From the tenor of your letter, you appear to express general dissatisfaction. As to the grounds for your dissatisfaction, I have nothing to say, only to regret much the information that I have received, that my orders have not been obeyed, and that the campaign was not long since terminated, as it was understood when the appointment was given to you with the powers specified, that the campaign must be completed within ninety days, or at farthest, in four months, which I thought entirely practicable. I shall be glad to secure your detailed reports of the manage- ment of the Regiment, and it may throw some light on the sub- ject which would be gratifying to me. As to the propriety or policy of submitting it to the people of Texas, I have no objection to interpose; that is a subject for your exclusive judgment. For myself I have uttered no condemnation of your actions, but to friends who are associated with me in my official relations to the country: to them when adverting to your campaign and its man- agement, so far as disclosed to me, I have, to some extent, indi- cated a small portion of my exceeding disappointment and morti- fication at the management of the expedition, and anything that -
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