WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184,3
378
The ink is sca'tcely dry upon the assurance that no aggressive action would take place on the part of this government against Mexico, beyond our avowed limits, 'U,nless it should be rendered necessary by the acts of Mexico towards Texas. In despite of this assurance our navy has gone to sea. In doing so, I can only say that the commander has committed the most flagrant outrage possible upon his country and the law of nations. That you may assure your government that it has not been perpetrated with or by my connivance, I take pleasure in for- warding to you a proclamation and order; that you may have it in your power to make such representation to the government of the United States as will vindicate the head of this nation from the imputation of insincerity and duplicity. The crime is one of great atrocity, and I have availed myself of the first moment to apply the only corrective in my power. All that has been done by Commodore Moore since the 5th ultimo, has been in violation of orders, under suspension and arrest. You can now judge of matters. On the 5th of April, the order of the Department of War and Marine was placed in his hands, since which time he has ordered a court martial, approved the proceedings and executed the sen- tence. By the copy of a letter of instructions; also, forwarded, which I delivered to one of the commissioners with orders to proceed immediately to its execution, you will find a clear a~ticipation of the course which would be attempted by Commodore Moore, and the precaution taken to prevent evil. Such measures as you may be authorized to adopt for the pres- ent, apart from communicating the facts to your government, I trust will be adopted. Sam Houston 1 George P. Garrison (ed.), Diplomatic Corresvondence of the Rep1iblic of Texas, I, 174-176. ExeC1ctive Record Book, No. 40, 246-247, Texas State Library. For Eve, see Houston to the Texas Congress, December 29, 1842; for Moore, Houston, to Commodore Edwin W. Moore, March 11, 1842. Houston wrote an identical letter to Captain Charles Elliot, British charge, on the same day. For that letter see George P. Garrison (ed.), Diplomatic Correspondenc.c of the Republic of Texas, II, 1089; also Executive Reco1'd Book, No. 40, p. 246, Texas State Library.
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