The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 100
641 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
that the President knew that the nature of the service I was engaged
in, required not only the disbursement of the means for which I
had to render an account to the Department, but a large amount in
addition, were if he had received no intimation to that effect from me.
The only inference that I can draw from these facts is, that the
President had an object to accomplish, and he cared not what principle
or person was sacrificed in its attainment. I have all the necessary
vouchers, well attested, to prove that I have legally and properly
expended all the means that have reached me as an officer of the
Government, and a large amount in addition, without which the
Navy would long since have dissolved.
A great number of my countrymen have been led to believe that the
Navy appropriation of ($97,659.50) ninety seven thousand, six hun-
dred and fifty-nine dollars and fifty cents, passed during the extra ses-
sion of July 1842, was paid over to me, and I am aware that some of
the members of Congress who acted in "secret session" were fully im-
pressed with this belief. Not one dollar of that appropriation has ever
reached me, and the prior appropriation of ($2o,ooo) twenty thou-
sand dollars passed January '42, was withheld until immense expense
had been iccured, and when the unappropriated balance of ($18,812)
eighteen thousand, eight hundred and twelve dollars was given to me
(with the restrictions about hypothecation) the object avowedly de-
sired by my Government had been rendered unattainable.
All my individual struggles and sacrifices for the support of the
Navy, would have proved fruitless but for the countenance and pa-
triotic co-operation of the officers under my command, who have
continued to serve the country with a patriotism which cannot be too
highly extolled, although the Executive of that country withheld from
them the appropriations voted for their relief by Congress when
absolutely suffering for want of the necessaries of life in consequence.
And when they were thus situated I have well attested assurances that
the President of Texas (who pretended officially to approve of a grand
naval movement against Mexico) was privately denouncing their ex-
traordinary spirit of endurance, declaring that he had long tried to
"starve them out" and wondered how it was possible for them to
"hide their nakedness and procure sustenance for two years without
pay."
If any of my countrymen should deem any of the expressions harsh
against the President, the unprecedented, uncalled for, and undeserv-
ing position, I have been, and am placed in by his extraordinary
Proclamation I hope will excuse me in their minds.
EDWIN WARD MOORE.
The editor's remarks were:
We publish today the defence of Commodore Moore, it needs no100
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963, periodical, 1963; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101196/m1/114/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.