WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
242
service; and hence, with other subjects of absorbing interest, it was reserved for a secret communication. When the present administration commenced, the Navy was absent in the service of Yucatan. it returned early in May last off Galveston, and was forthwith ordered to New Orleans and Mobile, for the purpose of refitting for the enforcement of the blockade then proclaimed by Texas against Mexico, in the con- fident belief, as expressed by its commander, that by the aid of the friends of Texas in the United States, he would be prepared for sea in a very few weeks. The government was induced from time to time by his reports and representations to expect it soon to be in a state for efficient service on the gulf. Every assistance which the government thought advisable under the circumstances in which it was placed, had been afforded in accordance with the views of its commander. Nothing, however, was effected of any useful character. In the month of July last, Commodore Moore arrived at Hous- ton and represented that if the balance of the naval appropria- tion, amounting to eighteen thousand eight hundred and twelve dollars and seventy cents, was p~aced at his disposition, he would be enabled, by hypothecating the money as collateral security to his own paper, to get at least four vessels to sea. When the money was advanced to him- it being the whole amount of the appro- priation for the present year- he was expressly required in the event of its hypothecation, so to provide, that no portion of it whatever, should be thrown into circulation under ninety days from the time at which he might enter into contract. A portion of the money, nevertheless, as reported to the Government, re- turned by the same packet that transported him to New Orleans, and had a powerful tendency to depreciate our currency by creating the belief that though the issues were restricted at the seat of government, yet that large sums had been thrown into cir- culation at other points in anticipation of the restriction upon home issues. From some cause, also, he failed from time to time to keep the government apprised, with as much particularity as would have been desirable, of his true situation. It will be perceived by the reports from the Department of War and Marine of the 15th ultimo,2 that the commander of the Navy finally made known his inability to get to sea without further means, owing, as alleged, to the worthlessness of Texas funds. The government had no additional means to afford all the available appropriation having been exhausted; and hence
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