Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/144

 did not obtain what they desired, that he would march to the seat of Government, "chastise the President, kick Congress out of doors, and give laws to Texas."

Gen. Houston determined to end this matter summarily. Knowing that Gen. Felix Huston occasionally indulged his men in what he called a Saturnalia, during which occasional murders had occurred in consequence of the brutal intoxication of the men, the President, having also understood what was transpiring in Congress, which he never visited except at the opening or close of the session, directed the Secretary of War to be ready to start at two o'clock the next morning for the camp. The Secretary carried sealed orders, with all possible dispatch, to be opened and read in camp. By these orders the Secretary was required to furlough the army by companies, until it was reduced to 600 men. The first company was furloughed to march to Dimitt's landing on Matagorda Bay; the second to the mouth of the Brazos; the third to Galveston, and thus the process was to continue till the reduction was made. The opportunity was thus afforded to the volunteers to go to the United States by water, and free the country from apprehensions. Unlimited furloughs were given, providing for recall of those furloughed at any time by proclamation, and that such as did not report within thirty days after the proclamation, should be considered and treated as deserters. Without paying the men off, which was impossible with no means of payment, and instructed by the attempt of Gen. Washington to disband the army of the Revolutionary war, Gen. Houston did not attempt to disband the army in form, although he successfully did it in fact, and in his own way. Subordination had been entirely broken down. Scenes of daring violence constantly occurred in camp. To commit high-handed depredations, many lawless and desperate men were banded together. While Houston manifested no alarm, the whole country was suffering from the most serious apprehensions, and the course which he pursued evinced his fears. The various companies reached their destinations, and made their way to the United States; having fared roughly and seen enough of military life, having exhausted the courage dangerous outside of the battle-field, and fearing that the proclamation of the President would end their furlough before they could depart,—all had disappeared before the thirty days had expired. Thus, by a bold and sagacious policy which none but a man like Sam Houston would have dared to attempt, he had saved the Republic from the deepest peril. Gen. Felix Huston plotted at the capital while Sam Houston's Secretary of War successfully disbanded the army of which he was the commander.

During the session of this Congress a land law was passed under