The Daily Madisonian

HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM TEXAS.

The steamer New York, Capt. Wright, arrived at New Orleans on the 18th inst., bringing highly important intelligence from Texas. We copy the following from the Picayune:

One of the most important items is the published fact that a large force left Texas early in the spring, on another Santa Fe expedition, although this time their object is war and not trade. Some time in March Col. Snively received a commission to raise a body of 300 men in the frontier counties of the northeast, for a descent upon Santa Fe and the capture of the tyrant Armijo and the traitor Lewis; and further, to inflict suitable punishment for the barbarous treatment visited upon the trading expedition under McLeod and Cooke.

The Galveston Civilian of the 16th instant states that "the principal difficulty was, not to raise enough men, but to keep from raising too many. Five hundred are known certainly to be in the field, and it is thought that the force is nearer eight. The place of general rendezvous was Coffee's station, the time the 15th of April. The men were to elect their own commander at the place of general meeting, and march immediately."

The whole thing has been kept a secret in Texas—and in this the editors of that country have pursued the wiser policy.

By far the most important news brought by the New York, is the fact that Gen. Houston has issued a proclamation virtually denouncing Com. Moore as a pirate, and making war upon the Mexicans, contrary to his (Houston's) orders. The Commodore is moreover charged with acts of disobedience, contumacy, and mutiny, by Houston, is declared suspended from all command in the navy of the Republic of Texas, and is ordered to report forthwith, in person, to the head of the Department of War and Marine of that country. We now give the two concluding paragraphs of President Houston in his own words:

"And I do further declare and proclaim, on failure of obedience to this command, or on his having gone to sea, contrary to orders, that this government will no longer hold itself responsible for his acts upon the high seas; but, in such case, request all the governments in treaty, or on terms of amity with this government, and all naval officers on the high seas, or in ports foreign to this country, to seize the said Post Captain E. W. Moore, the ship Austin and brig Wharton, with their crews, and bring them, or any of them, into the port of Galveston, that the vessels may be secured to the Republic, and the culprit or culprits arraigned and punished by the sentence of a legal tribunal."

"The naval powers of Christendom will not permit such a flagrant and unexampled outrage, by a commander of public vessels of war, upon the rights of his nation and upon his official oath and duty, to pass unrebuked; for such would be to destroy all civil rule and establish a precedent which would jeopardize the commerce of the ocean, and render encouragement and sanction to piracy."

This proclamation is dated at Washington, on the 23d of March, and signed by Houston himself and the acting Secretary of State, John Hall.

As a matter of course this proclamation has created great excitement in Texas, and the press seems to have but one voice, and that is condemnation of the President. Those which are most lenient say that he is insane, while others do not hesitate to charge him with treachery. It will not be a matter of much surprise to hear by the next arrival, that he has been "lynched."

The following letter was written by Commodore Moore, dated Texas sloop of war Austin, outside N. E. Pass, Mississippi, April 19, 1843, and addressed to the editor of the Texas Times, viz:

In the event of my being declared by Proclamation of the President as a pirate or outlaw, you will please state over my signature that I go down to attack the Mexican squadron with the consent and full concurrence of Colonel James Morgan, who is on board this ship as one of the Commissioners to carry into effect the secret act of Congress in relation to the navy, and who is going with me, believing, as he does, that it is the best thing that could be done for the country.

"The ship and brig have excellent men on board, and both officers and men are eager for the contest. We go to make one desperate struggle to turn the tide of ill-luck that has so long been running against Texas.

"You shall hear from me again as soon as possible."

Dr. James B. Miller has been appointed Secretary of the Treasury of the Republic.

It seems to be fastened upon Houston that he has been guilty of secret correspondence with Santa Anna, and of representing to that tyrant that the expedition which resulted in the unfortunate capitulation at Mier was a marauding party.

The papers of the Republic publish a translation in full of the proposals made by Santa Anna, through Judge Robinson; they differ but slightly from the summary heretofore published, and have received so little attention in Texas as to possess now neither interest nor value.