174
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
Regiment (from South Carolina), and was killed in the hard-fought battle of Churubusco, while leading his regiment. See Dic.tiona1-y of American Biogravhy, III, 365-367, for a good brief biography of Butler.
To JOHN D. ANDREwsl
Private
Washington, 24th March, 1843.
I , : '' I I I!
My Dear Colonel: Not being apprised of what disposition you intend to make of your time for sometime to come, I have concluded to tender to your acceptance the office of Secretary of the Treasury. The duties of the Department are not so arduous as they are important and responsible. To hold office in Texas is not by any means desirable, but some must discharge the duties of office, or all order, rule and government must cease and the end will be destruction to those who rely upon industry and the honest accumulation of means to secure the comforts of existence. There has never been a time when a country possessing the general intelligence which Texas does had run so wide of the mark of its interest as it has done. I am fully aware that the Jacobins of France were not more rabid in their feelings than some of the disorganizers of Texas. The injury resulting to us abroad from the incendiary presses of our country will not be easily counteracted, whilst at home they are fully understood and appreciated. The laziness of loafers and the malice of friends and traitors to their country may encumber and embarrass Texas, but they cannot destroy its future growth or greatness! No good ma11: can rejoice in the misfortune or embarrassments of his country. The man who would even seek to produce them is an enemy to the prosperity of his country; and the crime of treason consists in an effort to injure, or destroy our country by acts done to its prejudice. The man who entertains a heart adverse to its prosperity, for the advancement of individual or selfish ends, is as much a traitor in heart as though he were to succeed in de- stroying the institutions of his country. Cataline was no less a traitor than if he had succeeded in sacking and burning Rome. Arnold was no less the traitor than if he had succeeded in betraying the cause of liberty in the colonies. The inducement does not constitute the crime; but the perversion or corruption awaits an opportunity to make manifest its hateful criminality.
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