WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184,2
119
Reminiscences of Public Men in Alabama, 176-178; Biographical Directory of the American Congress, (1828), p. 822; Dictiona,·y of American Biography IV, 191-192.
To JAMES DAv1s 1
Private
Galveston, June 15, 1842.
To Acting Adjutant General Davis, Dear Sir, The troops are to blame and not the Government for the want of supplies. They would come to Texas in violation of my orders. They were apprised of our situation, and they would come by all means, and now they must be obedient to the laws of the country. If there was any fault in coming unprepared for c;ervice, that fault is theirs. They were not deceived by our government. They have deceived themselves; if so they have none else to blame. The Government has already done more than it was able to do; yet so great has been the disposition of the Government to supply their wants, that I have advanced about $450 on my own individual account. Others have done likewise; and yet some malcontents have dared to charge the nation with bad faith and with practising deceit upon them. The assertion is a foul calumny and an act of injustice to Texas. We.are not so ·aependent as to submit to mutiny and disorder by those who degrade the character of soldiers. The majesty of our laws shall be maintained; nor do we wish to submit our na- tional reputation to those who are not capable of appreciating our condition, or to those willing to add additional misfortunes to those which we are now bound to endure. We expected, if volunteers came to our aid, that they would act as friends, and not as enemies. If they are friends, they will obey our laws, and endure with us our privations-they will share with us all our advantages, and the glory of a campaign. The Government will direct their conduct, and it will be their duty to obey the orders which it may advise. When the time arrives that active operations are necessary and proper, they will be ordered. Until then, preparation cannot be too great by those who expect to acquire renown in arms. The brave man will deem preparation necessary at all times; but the coward is "always ready"-'tis true; he is always ready to 1-un at the first alarm.
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