WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
199
heart I congratulate you upon the advent of your son George. into the field of science, and I trust fame. How delightfully pleasing it must be to his parents that his career has commenced so early in life and under auspices so favorable to future dis- tinction. Your paternal pride must be gratified with the pros- pect, while the noblest and best of mothers will be consoled that her son is worthy of his sire and her own stock. Of other matters, my dear Christy, I have some things to . say. In speaking of Commodore Moore, you say, "believe nothing which you have heard, or may hear, to his prejudice," and again, " pass by all previous heart-burnings and apparent dis- obedience." You also state that you have had a free and con- fidential conversation with Mr. Bryan and that he fully agrees with you in the matter. Then you saw all and know all as well as the contents of my letter to you on the subject of our country's disgrace. I cannot realize that my friends and myself are all sane. Some of us are deranged-if not mentally, we are morally. You are one of the last men on earth that I could have supposed would excuse, countenance, or sanction mutiny, treason, or piracy, and call them "slight disobediences." They have all been perpetrated by Moore; and by the papers, I learn (for there is no official report to the Department) that he has adorned the catalogue of his crimes with murder, and under piratical cir- cumstances. When men undertake to judge for the head of a nation, they should know all the circumstances under which that head is acting. What has now been done? A lie given to the action of the Government-the laws trampled upon and contumely heaped upon the Executive by a traitor, and faithlessness perpetrated by confidential agents of the President under a secret act of Congress. What would you or I have thought of such conduct in 1816, or you have done up to 1840? My dear Christy, my indignation is called into action by acts of outrage, piracy, and murder added to mutiny and sedition! I hope Bryan did not show you my communications and docu- ments. You see what has been enforced upon me by the course which "Col. Bryan agreed fully with you in advising." How could anyone know what advices I have received from other Governments? Is it known what assurances I have given to the friendly powers as to the course which Texas would pursue in the present state of her foreign relations? Suppose fm· in- stance, that I had assured the friendly powers that no further aggressive action would be taken by the Government, unless it
Powered by FlippingBook