The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 76, July 1972 - April, 1973 Page: 52
539 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
the President through the Navy Department, the two ships had sep-
arated. Captain J. D. Boylon, Thompson, and Fisher, who knew of
the order not to stop ships of other nations unless they were carrying
contraband of war to Mexico, violated this directive by the capture
of the British vessel Eliza Russell. After careful investigation, Hous-
ton was assured to his own satisfaction that this ship did not contain
contraband. Not only did Houston feel strongly about the disregard
of these two directives; he also thought it most improper that the
crew had taken it upon themselves to devastate towns and inflict
cruelty on the peasants of Mexico. Houston added that such acts were
contrary to the policy of the government and therefore could not be
condoned."
The disrespectful character of Fisher's communications to the Tele-
graph and Texas Register was a fourth charge against the secretary.
Upon Fisher's return from the cruise, prominent citizens of Houston
resolved to honor him at a civic dinner. This gesture of special respect
was planned immediately upon his return before the public knew
anything of his repudiation by Houston. Though the two navy ships
had been lost, many Houston citizens considered that Fisher had
broken the Mexican blockade; hence their public expression of ad-
miration. In the September 9, 1837 Telegraph and Texas Register,
Fisher replied to the congratulations. He had been invited to a public
dinner, he told the newspaper, but stated that due to "circumstances
of a peculiar nature" he would be prevented from accepting. He gave
no explanation to clarify the statement."
Rumors had circulated that the secretary of the navy had consid-
ered resigning his post and these rumors brought forth protest. An
editorial in the Telegraph and Texas Register expressed dissatisfaction
with Houston's administration and condemned his conferring of a
public office on an inexperienced man (Shepherd). Fisher's answer
to these rumors appeared in the Telegraph and Texas Register of
September 16, 1837. His statement attempted to explain his irregular
conduct in taking a cruise with the navy, but Fisher nowhere in the
article criticized the President. In fact he stated that in refuting the
false rumor of his resignation it was "proper and respectful, not only
to the public, but to the chief executive" to say that no one had ever
been authorized by him to make a statement that he had intentions
"Fisher to Thompson, May 25, 1837, NP; Houston to the Senate, November 2, 1837.
s'Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston), September g, 1837.
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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/m1/70/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.