George W. Hill to Edwin W. Moore, July 19, 1843 - Page 2
You entered into a compact with the authorities
of Yucatan, the inhabitants of a portion of the territory of
our common enemy without the Sanction or Knowledge
of the authorities of this Government. For these various acts
of disobedience and contumacy, You were on the 21st day
of March 1843 suspended from the Command of the Navy
of the Republic and ordered to report to the Dept of War
& Marine in arrest[.] [A]fter the reception of this order of
Suspension and arrest by you in violation of law
without authority and disregarding the rights of men
You ordered a Court Martial to assemble for the trial of
those charged with meeting on board the San Antonio on
the 19th April 1843 while under Suspension and arrest[,] dis-
regarding the laws and authorities of this Government and in
contempt of the laws of Nations. You assumed to exercise
the functions of Commander of the Navy of Texas, and Sailed
to cruize [sic] upon the high Seas with armed vessels, under the
Flag of this Nation, which was Piracy. On the 26th
April 1843[,] with matchless disregard of the laws of God
and Man and condemning the lives of men, You pro-
ceded to Execute the Sentence of said illegal Court
Martial upon the persons of Antonio Landois, James
Hudgins, Isaac Allen, and William Simpson by hanging
them at the Fore Yard of the Ship Austin for one hour,
and committing their bodies untimely to the deep.
This was Murder.
For all these enumerated and unprece-
dented acts of enormity You are hereby dishonorably
discharged from the Naval Service of the Republic
of Texas.
By order of the President
George W. Hill to Edwin W. Moore, July 19, 1843. Andrew Jackson Houston Papers #3148, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 2015/001-04.