The Writings of Sam Houston, Volume VI

WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1855

192

Washington, that I would enclose you a letter to Mr. Stuart at Galveston, as I have done. I regret that you did not call upon me on your way down, as I might have been useful to you! I feel a proper pride in seeing Texas well represented in the National Councils. I hope to see you soon, and as you will be busy, until after election, I will not tax you with a reply. Though if you have good news write me a line. I hear from all quarters good news, which I hope is not fallacious. Thine Truly Sam Houston Hon. John Hancock 1 Houston Lette1·s, Texas State Library. John Hancock (October 24, 1824- July 19, 1893) was born at Bellefonte, Jackson County, Alabama; he was educated in the public schools of his neighborhood, and at the University of Tennessee. After graduation at the University, he studied law, was admitted to the bar, and set up a law office at Austin, Texas, ·in 1847. In 1851 he became Judge of the Second Judicial District of Texas, and retained this position until 1855, when he resigned to resume his law practice and to become a planter and stock raiser on a large scale. He served as a member of the State Legislature from 1860 to 1861. He was expelled from the Legis- lature because he refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States. During the Civil War he took up his residence in the North, but returned to Texas at the close of the struggle, and served as a member of the State constitutional convention in 1866. He was elected as a Democrat to the 42nd, 43rd, and 44th Congresses, serving from March 4, 1871, to March 3, 1877, but was an unsuccessful candidate to the 45th Congress. Again in 1883, however, he was elected to the 48th Congress (March 4, 1883- March 3, 1885), but refused to be renominated for the position. He resumed his law practice, retaining his home at Austin, Texas, until his death. In November, 1855, he married Miss Sue E. Richardson, a granddaughter of Asa Brigham, the first Treasurer of the Republic of Texas. Brigham was nominated by Houston, renominated by Lamar for his administration, and again nominated by Houston for services in the same position, thus serving as Treasurer throughout the first three administrations of the Republic. See James Lynch, Bench and Ba,• of Texas, 422-425; Biographical Directory of the Am.erican Congress, 1928, p. 1056; E. E. Bailey, Who's Who in Texas, 129; Biog1·a11hical Encyclopedia of Texas, 50-51; Frank Lotto, Fayette County, He1· History and Her People, pp. 203-204. HOUSTON'S OPINION CONCERNING THE "AMERICAN ORDER" 1 Independence, Texas, July 24th, 1855 Gentlemen: Your letter of yesterday's date was presented to me early in the afternoon. At the present time I feel no hesi- tancy in expressing my opinion in relation to the American

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