WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1843
260
The officers under him are in a destitute condition, for clothing, and "they, every one of them, need money." He appears to rely upon an appropriation made at the called session in July last, to enable him to extricate himself from his present difficulties, al- though he must be fully aware that that appropiration has not been and is not now available. The situation of Lieutenant Crisp is even yet more destitute and deplorable. He and his officers are subsisting on the charity of their friends at Galveston. The President has no means to bestow upon them for their relief, because the appropriation has long since, as above suggested, passed out of his control into the hands of the appropriate officer. In the extract given by Lieut. Crisp from a letter of Com- modore Moore, it would appear that the Commodore was dis- posed to reflect upop the Department of War and Marine, for not having the ground tackle of the vessels repaired and im- proved, suggesting that its deficiency was notorious. It might have been notorious in the Navy, and no doubt was; but it does not appear that he made any requisition upon the Department for the repairs or improvements necessary. It was his duty to have done so, and while the appropriations were within the control of the Department; or, after having drawn the appropria- tion himself, his first and bounden duty was to have procured such repairs and made up such deficiencies as were necessary. This, he appears in the midst of his surprise, to have overlooked, and although he alleges that he had attempted to impress on repeated occasions the fact upon the Department, he must have regarded it as unnecessary when the entire appropriation came into his hands. This was the case previous to the destruction of the San Bernard, which appears to be attributable to the want of suitable ground tackle, in which all the vessels of the Navy were, it is alleged, very deficient. As early as the month of October, the Executive became per- fectly satisfied that nothing would be achieved by the Navy and, as has been herebefore stated to the Honorable Congress, the President directed that it be ordered into Galveston; provided it cculd not be forthwith got to sea, in condition for efficient service. That order has been since repeated; but owing to his inability, or disinclination, to obey orders, the Commodore has not complied. 5 On the 2d. instant, it was again repeated through the proper Department, as will be seen by Mr. Hamilton's letter, No. 3, ac- companying.
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