WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184.3
176
have the Commodore "yoked" and manacled, if possible. The law has appropriated the suitable punishment to mutiny, treason and piracy. All three offences are embraced in the conduct of Post Captain Moore. In nothing have I been mistaken since last August, or when I gave him the Eighteen thousand dollars. That would never have been done, had it not been that I yielded my judgment to the advice of others. In this I am always unlucky: for I never depart from my own convictions of what is right and pursue the suggestions of others, but what I am made, by experience, to repent it sorely. You will find that you can reach Moore, if he is still in port; and if he has sailed you can reach him by the influence of the proclamation. Governments who regard the interests of the nation will not tolerate such conduct on the part of an officer. There cannot be any doubt but what a piratical project exists to a greater extent than has been exposed. This extra- ordinary conduct may indicate the course of the " San Antonio.":i Upon this subject my mind has never been clear. I have always entertained suspicions. You will be informed that Mr. Snow·• has deserted his post and robbed the San Bernard of arms, &c. Do bring the wretches to punishment. Examples must be made. Crime has become epidemical, and "Spencer" was only one of the first examples. The doctor must be the rope, and hanging the cure. Do arrest the evil. Col. Bryan can tell you the news. Thine truly, · Sam Houston [Rubric] "'Houston's Private Executive Record Book," pp. 342-343, courtesy of Mr. Franklin Williams. For information concerning Colonel James Mor- gan, see Volume I, 407. 'Houston's exasperated statements in this document, refer to the quanel that was going on between himself and Commodore Edwin Moore, com- mander of the Texan navy. No adequate treatment of the matter can be included here, for lack of space; but the following are a few citations to brief sources-and to a few longer ones-concerning this episode. The best brief summary of the whole story of the Texas navy, including this quarrel between the President of the Republic and the commodore of its navy, is to be found in E. C. Barker (ed.), Readings in. Texas Histo111, 357-358; a more partisan summary will be found in Yoakum, Histo111 of Texa.s, II, 379-384. See also Jim Dan Hill, The Texas Navy; Lamar Pa7,ers (six volumes, passim); Dr. Alex. Dienst, "The Navy of the Re- public of Texas," The Quarterly, Texas State Historical Association, XIII, 1-43, 85-127; G. F. Fuller, "A Sketch of the Texas Navy," The Qua1·te1·ly, Texas State Historical Association, VII, 218-230; and Edwin W. Moore, To the Peovle of Texas. ·
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