I
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
354
The evil is now done, and I trust sincerely, that the first of March may establish a government on some permanent founda- tion, where honest · functionaries will regard and execute the known and established laws of the country, agreeably to their oaths. If this state of things can not be achieved, the country must be lost. I feel, in the station which I hold, that every effort of the council has been to mortify me individually, and, if possible to compel me to do some act which would enable them to pursue the same measures toward me, which they have illegally done toward your excellency, and thereby remove another obstacle to the accomplishment of their plans. In their attempts to embarrass me, they were reckless of all prejudice which might result to the public service from their lawless course. While the council was passing resolutions affecting the army of Texas, and transferring to J. W. Fannin, 0 jr. and F. W. John- son7 the whole control of the army and resources of Texas, they could order them to be furnished with copies of the several reso- lutions passed by that body, but did not think proper even to notify the major general of the army of their adoption; nor have they yet caused him to be furnished with the acts of the council relative to the army. True it is, that they passed a resolution to that effect, but it never was complied with. Their object must have been to conceal, and not to promulgate their acts. "They have loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil." I do not consider the council as a constitutional body, nor their acts lawful. They have no quorum agreeably to the organic law, and therefore I am compelled to regard all their acts as void. The body has been composed of seventeen members, and I per- ceive that the act of "suspension," passed against your excellency, was by only ten members present; the president pro tem. having no vote. Only ten members remain, when less than twelve mem- bers could not form a quorum agreeably to the organic law, which required two thirds of the whole body. I am not prepared to violate either my duty or my oath, by yielding obedience to an act manifestly unlawful, as it is, in my opinion, prejudicial to the welfare of Texas. The lieutenant- governor and several members of the council, I believe to be patriotic and just men; but there have been, and when I left San Felipe there were others, in that body, on whose
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