WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
337
in rank present, and report in person to the Department. Since the 29th October 1842, .he has had no Authority to enter into any arrangements with Yucatan, nor could do so, without contumacy to his superiors, or treason to his Country. The fact of his ship- ping men, or enlisting or receiving, volunteer marines, with an intention of going out to Sea, without the orders, or sanction of his Government, or contrary to order, on armed vessels, will clearly render it a case cognizable by the Government Authorities of the United States. His setting at "defiance the laws of his own Country" to which he owes allegiance, is clearly treason.-When the orders under which he received his "Sealed Orders" were suspended, by the order for him to repair to Galveston, the "Sealed Orders" were of no avail, and it is his duty to return them "Sealed" to the Department; as the event authorizing the Seal to be broken has not transpired, and can not now occur, under the Sanction of his Government.-His existence as an officer is derived from the organs and functionaries, under the Constitution and Laws of Texas, and he is bound to know and obey them. Not to obey, is "Unofficerlike" to "resist" them is "Mutiny," and to "defy" them is "treason." For him to persist 'would be "Piracy." Should Post Captain E. W. Moore not forthwith render obedience to the orders of the Department, with which you are furnished, you will have published, in one or more Newspapers, in the City of New Orleans my Proclamation, and forward one authentic Copy with which you are furnished the Hon. Ashbel Smith, Charge d'Affaires of Texas, to France, at Paris, and also a Copy to our Charge· d'Affaires to the United States, the Hon. Isaac Van Zandt, at Washington City. It is deplorable for a Nation to be reduced to the dilemma of either exposing the Shameless delinquencies, and most flagrant crimes of her officers, or suffer herself to become the object of contempt, or the victim, of insubordination and anarchy. Our national humiliation is attributable to a few disorganizing men, who seek power without Merit, and a few incendiary presses, which are supported by such men, with the avowed design, of prostrating the Constitutional Officers, by Revolution. They shall fail.-! suggest these facts, that you may meet and counteract their influence for the Nation's sake, and honor. I beseech you to intermit nothing, · until you have accomplished, the objects of the law, for the prompt execution of which you were appointed.
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