WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
346
21st, and previous to receiving notice of his arrival, I issued an order to organize the troops so soon as they might arrive at that place, agreeably to the "ordinance for raising an auxiliary corps" to the army. A copy of the order I have the honor to en- close herewith. Mr. Johnson then called on me, previous to the circulation of the order, and showed me the resolutions of the general council, dated 14th of January, a copy of which I forward for the perusal of your excellency. So soon as I was made acquainted with the nature of his mis- sion, and the powers granted to J. W. Fannin, jr., I could not re- main mistaken as to the object of the council, or the wishes of individuals. I had but one course left for me to pursue (the re- port of your being deposed had also reached me), which was, to return, and report myself to you in person-inasmuch as the ob- jects intended by your order were, by the extraordinary conduct of the council, rendered useless to the country; and, by remaining with the army, the council would have had the pleasure of ascrib- ing to me the evils which their own conduct and acts will, in all probability, produce. I do .consider the acts of the council cal- culated to protract the war for years to come ; and the field which they .have opened to insubordination, and to agencies without limit (unknown to military usage), will cost the country more useless expenditure than the necessary expense of the whole war would have been had they not transcended their proper du- ties. Without integrity of purpose, and well-devised measures, our whole frontier must be exposed to the enemy. All the avail- able resources of Texas are directed, through special as well as general agencies, against Matamoras; aiid must, in all prohibil- ity, prove as unavailing to the interest as they will to the honor of Texas. The regulars at Goliad can not long be de~ained at that station, unless they should get supplies; and now all the re- sources of T'exas are placed in the hands of agents unknown to the government in its formation, and existing by the mere will of the council; and will leave all other objects, necessary for the defence of the country, neglected, for the want of means, until the meeting of the convention in March next. It was my wish, if it had been possible, to avoid for the present the expression of any opinion which might be suppressed in the present crisis. But since I reported to your excellency, having had leisure to peruse all the documents of a controversial nature growing out of the relative duties of yourself and the general
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