WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1843
453
to bring six months provisions, arms and clothing.-The Presi- dent was denounced for trying to get.rid of this people. Not one order was ever obeyed by them, except under Adjutant Gen. Davis, when he repulsed Canales. They marked their course, some, after deserting their post, with devastation; and it was all my fault.-! had not a dollar fo give them. The papers were profuse in their abuse of the Executive, but without suggesting any plan of their own. Let these wise-acres propose some thing that will produce results. Tbey don't know but that the President will adopt it. It is easier to pull down a tall building than to rear a cottage. The irresponsible, who have nothing to do but mis- .chief, are ever ready to embarrass the operations of those who are held responsible by the people.-Now we have at least a ces- sation of arms, and freed from the anxiety attending upon war, peo1 le can pursue their ordinary avocations in quiet. When have we seen our crops gathered before, without the fear of interruption? When, before, have we seen fat glossy horses passing through the streets of Houston? We have seen horses, with our heroes astride of them, whipping on their sore side to battle. When they reached the enemy's borders, what did they do? They were taken prisoners, and then, the President must be the "rascal and traitor." My countrymen : one question in relation to England. What has England done? And there is no secret in connection with her. I say it before God, but that Texas wants peace, to be attained by the intervention of the three great powers; and England has assured us that we have her most friendly disposi- tion and aid. There is no condition mentioned. Abolition, or anything of the kind, is wholly unknown to the archives of the government. They have a right to advise, if they choose, and we to reject-There is nothing compulsory on their part. Eng- land is in no wise making claims or asserting anything as a right, which is incompatible with the interests of this country. But as to the United States. And here I am at a loss what to say. Suppose that England had landed goods upon our territory and forcibly retaken them from the officers of the law under legal seizure, what would not have been the clamor? Or suppose English officers had by superior force captured a command, acting under authority of the government, of our citizens, and deprived them of their arms,-leaving them subject and exposed, in a defenceless situation, to be slain without power or means to defend themselves? This would be very wrong in the Engli h.
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