be determined by the Legislative power of the Republic. The right to obtain it is complete the very moment the services are rendered. I know that Mr. Wilson represents this matter in a very different light, and contends, that no lands will be given to those that have gone to the country since the 1st of July. This cannot be true; for the law upon the subject has not been changed, and it expressly provides that they shall receive lands in the proportion to their services. But it was not contemplated by the law that the first act of a volunteer officer would be to use the chain and compass of a surveyor: he is expected first to use the sword of the soldier and the patriot. Disappointed in his ambitious pretensions to rank, and finding that no lands were to be had in Texas without first fighting for them, Mr. Wilson, it seems, determined to abandon the country, and march back the "Ladies Legion" lo old Kentucky. But his influence was not sufficient to bring back more than 30 or 40 of the brave 300 that left Kentucky with him. The balance nobly determined to join the army and seek the enemy; and they were received as Kentuckians ever will be received by the lovers of chivalry-with an enthusiastic and hearty welcome. The facts set forth in this statement of Mr. Wilson's "march to Texas and back again," are established by a variety of testimony in my possession; but the following letters upon the subject will be sufficient to satisfy the public. The two first are from Lieuts. Combs and Brashear, very respectably young officers attached to Col. Harrison's battallion from this city, now with the main army; the third is from the Commandant of the Post of Galveston; and the other is from Dr. Read of the Texian army, a gentleman of high respectability well known in Cincinnati. Mr. Wilson tells us in his expose that he returned to his men on the Island and "told them that he was willing to abide their decision, to wit: -either to join the main army or return with them to the U. States." Now, if he did tell them this, the result proves that he promised them what he did not perform, for, out of the 300 that went, some 30 or 40 have returned, and the decision of the balance was, not to "advance backwards," but to march gallantly forward to meet the enemy, and do honor to the noble enthusiasm and bounty of Kentucky that sent them there to fight the enemy, and not to raise difficulties about land or rank. Yet Mr. Wilson is here, in this land of comforts and plenty, defaming the suffring Texians and his former companions and neighbors that have remained , who have now become Texians also, and who consequently are equally embraced with the rest in the
117
Powered by FlippingBook