The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 76, July 1972 - April, 1973 Page: 44
539 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
navy, thus bringing reproach upon the government. As to his own
position, Houston stated that he had worked to establish Texas on
a sound political basis in both domestic and foreign affairs. Yet, after
two years, only the United States recognized the independence of
Texas. The navy's destructive cruise could hardly fail to reduce the
respect other nations had for Texas."
Besides the unauthorized cruise, Houston had other reasons for
suspending Fisher. He charged the secretary with tobacco smuggling,
embezzlement of government funds from the sale of the steamboat
Cayuga and the brig Pocket, and publishing articles in the Telegraph
and Texas Register considered disrespectable to Houston and the
administration.'8
Houston stated that after granting Fisher leave of absence he
learned from reliable authority that the secretary was implicated in
tobacco smuggling. Fisher, it was alleged, was willing to use his of-
ficial position in an unethical intrigue and to permit his branch of
national defense to protect an illegal traffic into Mexican ports. Apart
from Houston's presentation, there is evidence to indicate that Fisher
had made a proposition to Thomas Toby, a merchant-broker from
New Orleans, to engage in this enterprise on a joint account and for
their private advantage. In exchange for the tobacco, the two planned
to procure horses and mules from Mexico to sell to the Texas govern-
ment. Houston, in his account to the Senate, mentioned nothing
about the latter part of the proposition-the selling of horses and
mules to the government. He did, however, remark that he was cer-
tain tobacco had been purchased, but mentioned nothing about the
goods being actually smuggled into Mexican ports. Of this latter
operation he apparently had no proof. With or without proof of
Fisher's guilt in this matter, Houston felt he could not under the
circumstances retain Fisher in his cabinet."
The charge of tobacco smuggling supported Houston's allegation
against Fisher regarding embezzlement of government funds. As head
of the Navy Department, Fisher had been entrusted with the sale of
the steamboat Cayuga and the brig Pocket, as they were no longer
17Houston to the Senate, November 2, 1837. The charges against Fisher are para-
phrased in an unsigned memorandum dated November, 1837, Papers of Mirabeau Bona-
parte Lamar, No. 62o (Archives Division, Texas State Library).
asIbid.
'"Houston to the Senate, November 2, 1887. Houston did not indicate the source of
his information on the smuggling matter.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 76, July 1972 - April, 1973, periodical, 1973; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101202/m1/62/: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.