The Writings of Sam Houston, Volume I

WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1826

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It is not strange that he shou'd wish Eaton removed, for Eaton is the intimate friend of Genl Jackson, and Grundy is his rancour- ous (tho secret) enemy. My firm and undeviating attachment to Genl Jackson has caused me all the enemies that I have, and I glory in the firmness of my attachment to Jackson and to principle. I will die proud in the assurance, that I deserve, and possess his perfect confidence. Sam Houston. To my ne>..-t friend, shou'd I perish, to be published with the in- closed letter & the remarks herein written. 1 Original in possession of Mrs. Roy Hearne, Houston, Texas. Photostat in The University of Texas Library. 2 See the Dictionary of Ame1·ican Biogmphy, VII, 32-33 for a sketch of Felix Grundy (September 11, 1777-December 19, 1840).

To SAMUEL L. SouTHARD 1

Washington Ap. 21st 1826. Sir 2 I have the honor to send you the enclosed papers. they were once on file in your office. Mr. J. C. Goodrich 3 now in Ne.w York wishes to obtain the situation of Purser in the Navy and if anything can be done for him it will be gratefully acknowledged by me. This is written by the hand of a friend as I am too much in- disposed to write. Sam Houston Hon. S. L. Southard 1 Hardin-Simmons University Library. 2 Samuel Lewis Southard (June 9, 1787-June 26, 1842), Senator from New Jersey, was born at Basking Ridge, Somerset County, New Jersey. He was appointed to the United States Senate to fill a vacancy, and served from 1821 to 1823, when he resigned to accept a position in Monroe's cabinet as Secretary of the Navy. He served until 1829. See Charles Lanman, A Dic- tionary of the American Congress, 1549-1550. The Dictionary of Am6ricmt Biography, XVII, 411-412. 3John Calvin Goodrich was at the time this letter was written only seven- teen or eighteen years of age. It appears that he did not receive the position of purser in the navy for which his friend, Sam Houston, asked the Secretary of the Navy. Instead, he and his brother Benjamin went to Texas, and there, March 6, 1836, John Calvin became one of the victims of the Alamo massacre. See Southwestern Historical Quarte,·ly, XXXVII, 261-262.

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