Apr 21 1836 to June 3 1836 - PTR, Vol. 6

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[2849) [MACOMB to RUSKJ

New York April 23d 1836

My dear Sir

I have the honor to report to you or Secretary of War of the Republick of Texas, that the Commissioners, under whom I was sent to these United States by the Provisional Govr of Texas - and under an order of the Commander in Chief of the forces of Texas have in consequence of their not having been able to obtain funds in this city, have determined that I shall proceed1mmediately to Texas and I am now making myself ready lo go forthwith. I am to be sent next week with dispatches to our Govt at Harrisburgh or wherever it may be localed. I have been in this city since the middle of January last by virtue of the above orders. I made regular reports of my proceedings to the Commander in Chief of the Army. I hope I shall find our country enjoying that repose which a decided victory over the forces of Santa Anna at this time, would certainly give it, and that our army under the newly organized govt will assume a force and efficiency which the Department over which you preside, has it in its power lo effect. I was one of the most zealous in the first conventions for the establishment of Depart- ments in the provisional govt, but I was overruled by a small majority. No government can go on without heads for these great duties and responsibilities, which are essential in every honest administration of it. In the arrangements of the Bureaus of your Department, we find as in those of the U. Stales, great precision and despatch as a consequent; because the head of each Bureau has his prescribed duties to perform and also his particular respon- sibility for the good proper management of his Bureau. I am sorry there was not a [illegible] Department created in the new govt viz a Home Dept, which would include the Land, Indian, Mining, and patent concerns of the Republic. These items in the Govt of the U. States are given in the absence of a Home Department to others to which they do not or cannot properly belong. The Govt of the U. States have frequently attempted to create a Home Department but have always met with difficulties from the majority at the time; the reason assigned is an increase of patronage. But they will soon have to come to it. The Commis- sioners have as yet received no official communication from the new Govt of Texas. We have not yet seen the Constitution. Our Independence will be acknowlecl~ed the movement we have

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