WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
497
So far as power has been given to the Executive on the sub- ject of our Navy, Measures have been adopted for carrying into effect the ·wishes of Congress, touching that important arm of our service. Sam Houston [Rubric] 1 "Messages of the Presidents," Congressional Pavers, Texas State Library. 'fo GEORGE W. BRbWNING 1 Executive Department, Columbia, 8th Deer. 1836. Mr. Geo. vV. Browning 2 Sir, Your letter with its enclosures, has reached me, and it is only needful to say., that the business to which it refers, has all been disposed of. The absence of Col. Smith 3 from his Post, was sufficient to vacate his situation and require that another should be placed in it. It is a rule in military service, that no officer shall leave his Post to which he has been assigned without leave from his superior. Col Smith has none, therefore aban- doned his Post! The troops at that point have been disbanded, except Capt J ewells 4 Company, and that placed under orders for the main army; unless complaints of misconduct should cease, and duty be attended to as ordnance by me; a boat and block houses, completed, which should have been done in ten days from the time the order was issued for the duty. No troops who neg- lect duty, 01: are guilty of mis-conduct can expect a reward from the Republic. Like individuals it will pay for benefits, if ren- dered. But disobedience of orders, will destroy any army; and ruin those it ought to defend.- My orders were very explicit. Hereafter, no soldier, who does not obey orders, and obtain an honorable discharge, will be entitled to any bounty land or to the rights of citizenship. If he depredates on the rights of Citizens, or their property, or is guilty of insubordination, it will be a bar to his claims; and all officers will be bound to state these facts on the face of his discharge. A soldiers greatest pride should consist in the manly and faithful discharge of all his duties. Obedience is the first, and bravery in the face of an enemy the next. One, enables him to render the other, success- ful and glorious to himself, and beneficial to his country. Sam Houston. 1 Execntive Lette1· Book No. 1, pp. 130-131, Texns State Library. State Dcpa.1·tm.ent Anny Papc1·s (1836-1840), ibid. 2 George Washington Browning (1806-May 14, 1879) was born in S·ot- !and, emigrated from his native land to Texas in April, 1835, enlisted in
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