WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1827
84
unhesitatingly adopt the course of refusing to receive from you, any sealed communication addressed to General Jackson. Sam Houston [Addressed]: Sam L. Southardz Secy of the Navy U. States [Endorsed] : Sam Houston to Sam 1 Southard 15th Feby 1827 Examined, & found to be truly copied from the original Feby 1827 John Blair 3 1 Jackson MSS., U.S. Congressional Library. Photostat, The University of Texas Library. zsee Houston to Andrew Jackson, December 13, 1826. sJohn Blair was a Representative from Tennessee from 1823-1837 and served on the Committee of Military Affairs. Charles Lanman, Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress, 41.
TO ANDREW J ACKSON 1
Washington, 15th Feby 1827. Dear General, On the 12th Inst. Mr Southard sent to me a letterz sealed, which, in his note he alleged was a reply to yours of the 5th Ultimo. It being sealed induced me to return it, and state to him my reasons for so doing. I allowed him one night to determine whether he woud return me an answer open- he has concluded that he will not and I have refused, to receive for you any other- In the making known to me his determination; he says to me, in his letter, "If under this determination you are disposed to comply, with his request, contained in his lette1· to me, to inclose my reply, I will immediately inclose it to you again. If you think proper to decline sending it I will take care that he (Genl Jackson) receive it by some other safE' conveyance." It is needless for me to make any (!Omments on this subject to you as relates to myself alone! For me at this time to do any act, not perfectly pacific wou'd no doubt meet all the wishes of the Cabinet. I will let .matters rest as they relate to me, but at the same time I am satisfied that his course, wou'd justify me under almost any other state of facts asking him personally, if he intended disrespect to me,· and if he was not prompt in denying, to slap his jaws! The present course of Mr S. has been adopted I have no doubt after some half dozen Cabinet Councils- I will not trust his letter, or mine to him in reply to him by mail!
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