Houston v1

WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1835

315

It is a most important office to the order of the Army; I have the honor to refer to the Regulations of the U. States army com- piled by Maj Cross Page 30. -136 & 120-121- The General commanding, is supposed in camp to have many, and diversified duties to perform, and in the present war, many intricate & important questions must arise, growing out of our peculiar situation of our relations to Mexico, as well as, our rela- tions Generally to the law of nations. In the Army every thing to be executed well must be executed promptly. Hence the necessity of a Gentleman ·who, can instantly respond to the Gen- erals requirements on subjects to which his investigation cannot be extended, without embarrassment to his other duties. Sam Houston (Rubric) [Addressed]: To Colonel D. C. Barrett Present [ Endorsed] : Sam Houston Letter San Felipe 11 Dec 1835. 1 8an·ett Letters (originals), The University of Texas Library. PROCLAMATION TO THE CITIZENS OF TEXAS 1 . . Head Quarters, vVashington, Texas, December 12, 1835. Citizens of Tex;,ls, Your situation is peculiarly calculated to call forth all your manly energies. Under the Republican constitution of Mexico\ you were invited to Texas, then a wilderness. You have re- claimed and rendered it a cultivated country. You solemnly swore to suport the Constitution and its laws. Your oaths are yet in- violate. In accordance with them, you have fought with the liberals against those who sought to overthrow the Constitu- tion, in 18323, when the present usurperf was the champion of liberal principles in Mexico. Your obedience has manifested your integrity. You have witnessed with pain the convulsions of the interior, and a succession of usurpations. You have ex- perienced, in silent grief, the expulsion of your members from the State Congress 5 • You have realized the horrors of anarchy and the dictation of military rule. The promises made to you have not been fulfilled. Your memorials 0 for the redress of grievances have been disregarded; and the agents 1 you have sent to Mexico have been imprisoned for years, without enjoying the rights of trial, agreeable to law. Your constitutional executive has been deposed by the bayonets of a mercenary soldiery while