WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1844
534
In the first place the government never promised those who should participate in the late campaign to the Rio Grande, any- thing more than authority to march. Such ammunition and arms as could be furnished, and the spoils acquired from the enemy, according to the laws of civilized warfare. This fact is shown by the accompanying note from the Secretary of War and Marine, (which is intended to form a part of this message), and the pub- lished declarations of the Executive himself. In an address to the people of Texas, dated July, 1842, and published in the news- papers of the day, the Executive remarked in reference to the contemplated expedition, that "the government will promise noth- ing but authority to march, and such supplies of ammunition as may be needful for the campaign. They 1nust look to the Valley of the Rio Grande for rernuneration. The government will claim no portion of the spoils-they will be divided among the victors. The flag of Texas will accompany the expedition." From this it will be perceived that the government was guarded against incurring any pecuniary responsibilities on account oi the campaign. For this reason they were authorised to cross the Rio Grande, "and make such reprisals upon Mexico as civilized and honorable warfare would justify in the relations then existing with the common enemy." The Executive knew full well at that period, as he does now, that the means of the country could not sustain the expense of the expedition, and hence he based his call to the citizen soldiers of the Republic, upon what he believed to be their patriotic desire and readiness to engage in the under- taking, and because he knew the inability of the country to pay them for their services, he plainly told them they must look "for remuneration to the valley of the Rio Grande." The Executive also objects to the bill because of the partiality which it manifests for the relief of one only of those who equipped themselves and left their homes in the service of their .country to the exclusion of all others, equally meritorious. If the country is able to pay all these claims, let all be included. If not, then it would seem to be partiality to pay one and not all.2 It is just that all should be regarded on the same footing, and the claims of no one preferred to those of all the rest. The widows and orphans of the brave and unfortunate decimated, have not peti- tioned Congress for pay or relief. The Government has already had money to pay for property impressed without authority, by order of the Acting Quarter Master General from the French Consul at Bexar, residing there
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