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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1833
The law givers of the most enlightened communities now look upon the contract of marriage in no other light than a civil con- tract and will consequently dissolve it when from some super- veinent cause it becomes impossible or improper for the parties longer to live together. That by the laws of most, and your peti- tioner believes all, the states of the North an absence of either husband or wife from the other for a certain period of years is sufficient to enable either to apply for and obtain a divorce, and mens et thor or by the dissolution of the marriage contract. And by the laws of the state of T'ennessee, where your petitioner was married, the time is fixed at two years. Whereupon your petitioner prays, the premises considered, that your honor will be pleased to order such notice given (con- sidering the situation of the country) as you may think proper, that the said formerly named Eliza H. Allen may by herself, or her attorney come forward on a certain day and show cause if any she has, why the said marriage contract should not be dis- solved and a divorce decreed to your petitioner. And your petitioner prays for all such other and further relief which the nature of the case may require and which to justice and right may appertain, and your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray. Samuel Houston .B. J. Harrison, his Agent November 30, 1833. 1 The Arlington Post (Texas), January 10, 1891. Asbury Papers, The Uni- versity of Texas Library. This copy is taken from the Asbury Pape1·s. The petition was prefaced by a paragraph which stated that this-the original-was found among a lot of old legal documents in the court house at Nacogdoches.
1834 To LEWIS CASS 1
Gen 1 Houstons compliments to Gov Cass, and begs leave to sug- gest, that it would be most agreeable if it meets the Governors views, that he should address a note to General Hughs & Hous- ton, requiring the information that may be desirable to him, on the subject of reclaiming Lieutenant Abby of Capt Boons com- pany- They will then make a joint reply to Governor Cass. S. H. (Rubric) Anti Room 6th March 1834
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