WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1845
437
man who talks of indulgences of beastly intoxication of men who had countenanced debauchery in their chief magistrates and abusing the people for the confidence which they had repeatedly reposed in him-This man, on more occasions than one, like classic gentlemen sometimes do, frequented the round tent. It was, on many occasions, as you will remember, the resort of those who there repaired to vivify their fancies. And this important officer of State did, with majestic air, and formal step, stride down to make the vulgar stare in admiration of his second rate majesty, welcomed by all and asked to take a drink. He drank, and with another and another drank and spouted politics, looked wise and gave nods of significancy. At length, in dignity, was he seated on a chair. His eloquence abated, and his tongue grew thick, his utterance became inarticulate and his voice died into dozing. There sat his Majesty, his legs distended, his arms suspended dangling at his side, head dropped upon his breast, and now & then he would bring a hiccup, then drop down his head till carried in pity to the station which he held. This is that paragon, the man who has figured in the ad interim govern- ment.3 Had I ever sunk to degradation like this, I would justly have incurred not only the reprehension of the decent, but the denunciations of the moral portion of this community. Neverthe- less this is one of the men, who is ready to denounce me as false to my faith and disloyal to my country. 'Mille,· Pape,·s, Texas State Library. 2 For Thomas Jefferson Green, see Houston to Thomas Jefferson Green, December 20, 1836, Volume I, 515-517. 3 David G.. Burnet. S'ee the newspaper articles signed "Truth" under dates August 16, and 18, 1841, Volume II, pp. 376-380, 380-386.
To HAMILTON STUART 1
Galveston, Texas, Dec. 21, 1845.
Mr. H. Stuart: Dear Sir,- Believing that I should be delinquent in duty to others as well as to myself, if I were longer to remain silent, touching the facts connected with the Mier Prisoners, subsequent to their capitulation, I will now express myself. Although I have but seldom read the gratuitous misrepresentations, which have been reiterated upon this subject, I nevertheless, have seen and · know sufficient of them to suppose, that many honest readers may be inclined to believe that there was some foundation for
Powered by FlippingBook