206
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1831-] 832
safely leave for a while your late business of Dog whipper to some friend of more·leisure I hope [for] the p-.:easure of seeing you here very soon- more especially as our affairs require early and rapid movements I rejoice to learn from yourself as well as many friends that you will not suffer much harm by any doings of Congress in your case I am much pleased to learn that our friend Pearse has succeeded in his object- and hope soon to see him here-with you We have news from Vera Cruz to 7 Ult- Santa Anna was then strong in power and fast increasing in strength and influence- Dispatches were sent by M[r] [A] Butler to our Government the purport of which I hope you may obtain at Washington before you leave- If the dispatches should not have reached Washing- ton before this is to hand, I think you had better wait for a few days to obtain opinions after they are to hand- Chas. A. Clinton Esqr son of the late DeWitt Clinton is a candidate for one of the Commissioners to bee appointed under the late Treaty with France-he is very deserving, has high claims to the office, is a good friend of the administration, is largely interested in Texas affairs- and a Director in one of the companies and is more over a good friend of mine His recommendations to the President are from the most respectable merchants in this city -I am very desirous to have Clinton ap- pointed for many reasons-more especially as it will lead him to a residence at Washington where we want his services- Col. R. M. Johnson 2 knows him well I can show you recommendation letters as his friend. If you feel at liberty to extend your in- fluence in favor of my friend- you may thereby serve me and for which we shall both feel grateful- If you should be longer detained please let me hear from you soon 1 James P1·entiss Letters, The University of Texas Library. The Prentiss letters are published because they are essential to an understanding of Houston's replies-all bearing upon Houston's designs in going to Texas in 1832. 2 Richard Mentor Johnson (1780-November 19, 1850), mentioned in this letter, was a Representative and Senator from Kentucky, Vice-President from 1837 to 1841. See A Dictionary of A1ne1·ican Biog1·aphy, X, 114-116. Biographical Directo1if of the American Congress, 1155-1156. Charles Lan- man, A Dictionmif of the United States Congress, 268-269.
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