11
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1818-1822
costs of a suit against me have been paid," that until then I could not draw the ballance due me. I am at a loss Sir, to account for this requisition. If a suit had been instituted against me, on improper grounds, when the United States owed me a ballance of $170. 9 c. my accounts too had been forwarded, but treated with contempt, and myself with injustice, ought I to pay costs? Perhaps this is a rule estab- lished at the City, but it won't meet our Backwoods notions of Justice. As often a [s] three different times have I sent my accounts to Washington; once I be!ieve as early as 1819 or 20, and at all times there were blank receipts annexed to them. Wherefore the necessity of my sending a power of Atto as a Voucher to lVIr. Lee? ff is not necessary nor can it be required upon any other ground than to produce a delay. I feel sore on the subject of formality- and· Ettiquette-- lVIy accounts have been once returned to me at this place as_ "inadmissible" afterwards they were acknowledge to be "strictly legal." How this ever took place I am yet unable to determine; but to those engaged in the transaction I suppose all is clear & fair. I write to you, Sir, that I may at some period not very remote obtain my right. I wish to have no further business with lVIr. Lee and wou'd be g!ad that the business could work into the hands of Thos. T. Tucker Esqr Treasurer ; 2 he is an honest and honorable man. I wish a Draft forwarded to lhis place payable at Washington, Baltimore, or Philadelphia. Sam }louston [Rubric] P. S. No suit has ever been commenced against me. H. Hon J. C. Calhoun Secy of War 3 [Endorsed]: Copy to John C. Calhoun 4th June 1822. 1 0riginal in the War Department, U.S. Courtesy of Colonel M. L. Crim- mins, a photostat from his private library. 2 Thomas Tudor Tucker (June 25, 1745-May 2, 1828), was born and edu- cated in Port Royal, Bermuda. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and set up his practice in Charleston, South Carolina. He served as a surgeon in the Continental Army throughout the Revolu- tionary War, and was a member of the Continental Congress, 178i-1788, and was elected as a Federalist to the First and Second Congresses (March 4, 1789-March 3, 1793). President Jefferson appointed him United States
Powered by FlippingBook