446
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1853
the purpose, not only of vindicating himself against the imputa- tion of having been discharged for disobedience of orders, but for the purpose of showing on what ground he acted, the amount of information that he obtained and the labor that he performed; and at the same time that he was engaged in this during the e>..1:remest hardships, while the Department here was preparing to • dishonor and disgrace him, after he had signed an instrument in violation of his conscience and his conviction of propriety; and he has never had the opportunity of showing what his conduct had been up to that time; what labor· he performed, and what information he had obtained. I do not know whether Mr. Bartlett knows anything about the resolution. I, of course, did not wish to preclude him from the advantage of making a report also, I did not wish to bring an ex parte matter before the Senate. I wish them to have the opportunity of comparing information derived from both sources, and see whether it is worth anything; and if it is worth anything, that the whole country may be possessed of it; but if it is worthless, I would be very sorry to urge the adoption of the resolution·here. I am very well satisfied, from the characters of one party, and the opportunities of the other that it must contain, not only on one part, but on the part of both, useful information, and therefore I desire to obtain it. 1 Cong1·essional Globe, A1)J)endix, Special Sess., 32d Congress, 1852-1853, pp. 312-314. To MRs. JAMES A. CARR 1 April 8, 1853. General Houston's compliments to Mrs. Carr & has the pleasure to send her the enclosed note from the Commissioner of Pensions. Mrs. Carr will see that matters are as I supposed they were. The subject will have to be brought before Congress, and I have no doubt but what such proof can be made, in addition to the personal knowledge of Genl. Rusk and myself, and well enable the heirs to draw the Pensions from 1822, until General Smith's death, amounting to $2,907. Sam Houston [Rubric] [Endorsed on card] : Letter from General Sam Houston. Mrs. W. Hal Noble. 1Mrs. Hal Noble possesses the original of this letter. There is a photo· static copy of it in The University of Texas Library. James A. Carr was a mighty Indian fighter in Texas during the 1860's. He was a member of Edward Burleson's (son of the distinguished general
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