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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
trary power and peculation, has knowingly and wilfully, and with malice aforethout [sic] diviated from the Constitutional chart ;-and in search of chimerical and Quixotic adventures and of his malice aforethought has run the government barque into tempestuous strange and dangerous seas, infested with pirates, and surrounded by shoals and quicksands. He in conjunction with a majoritv of the under officers and crew, in secret cabal, have conspired the destruction of the fleet assigned for safe convoy: the officers and crews of which, in their laudable and patriotic zeal for the protection and security of the gov- ,ernment barque had explored and reported on the dangers of those seas. Whilst absent and engaged on this laudable and dangerous enterprize; the Captain not having the fear of God before his eyes, but instigated by his malignant feelings and his determination to break down every barrier, which might impede the progress of of [sic] his diabolical projects; issued his proclamation to the World, denouncing the officers and crews of the fleet, as pirates. Thereby rendering them undeservedly and unjustly subject to the most ignominious deaths. They however, by their own interpidity and the mercy of a divine providence arrived safe in the government port. Where instead of meeting with that response due to their meritorious actions; they were. repulsed with scorn and contempt, dishonorably discharged from the service, without provisions fee or reward, and left to wend their way the best they might to some more friendly clime. Storms are threatening without and seditions within and th{l government barque in eminent danger of falling into the hands of ruthless pirates who would rob and murder the passangers and crew, or condemn them to slavery; or of being stranded on some inhospitable shore, and left to the mercy of heartless wreckers, the bone pickers of misfortune, who would claim of us, the passengers, as salvage our most vulnerable and productive property, and in their blind and fanatical zeal would proclaim, it was to do God service and humanize mankind. Thus situated I would consider it the duty of the passengers to simultaneously rush to the deck, and demand of the under officers and crew, an immediate arrest of the master, and that he be suspended from his functions and the first mate put in char~e, who might yet perhaps be able to correct the log and conduct the barque into port where she might be anchored in good safety To drop the simile. What reasons has or can his Excellency assign for this great deviation and dereliction of public duty? Ostensibly noth- ing but fear. A term which I am sure never sounded well on water, and seldom meets with a sympathetic response on land Fear is im- planted in us, as a preservative from evil; but its duty like that of other passions is not to overbear reason but assist it; nor should it be suffered to tyranize in the imagination, to raise phantoms of horror, or beset life with supernumerary distresses. Where duty renders the situation of a public officer a dangerous one; it is his business to guard against the danger, and not to fly from the situation itself. On what then was this fear predicated? Simply that a few Mexicans had made their appearance in the Town of Bexar within some eighty or a hun- dred miles of the seat of government, who were dislodged by the pa- triotic citizens, all most before his Excellency knew they were there, without his aid, and from circumstances it would seem, contrary to his wish. As fear is a passion, implanted by nature not to overbear, bnt :issist reason; let us see if any of the cardinal virtues will bear
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