87
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1854
and fifty lieutenant colonels, seventy-five majors, three captains, two lieutenants, and about five hundred men constituted the mili- tary establishment when the constitutional government com- menced. General Green, of course wanted to be a great man, and he thought it would be a great idea to have a bank in Texas. A charter for one had been granted by the Mexican government, and it was contended by some lawyers and politicians that it was a vested right. However, a bill was drawn up for a bank, which was to extend great advantages to the country. The company were to create an inland navigation from the river Sabine to the Rio Grande by canal, and they were to transport all the govern- ment troops, mails, and everything of that sort, and in addition to pay a bonus of $25,000 in specie to the government, and when the bonus was paid, the President was required to issue a charter to the company. This banking company went on to divide their stock into shares. I do not know how much it was a share. Mr. Green went to the United States, and, on the assurance that the bonus would be paid, and the charter granted, he sold his interest, I think, for $28,000 in goods, and brought them to Texas. He :figured largely on that; but the time came when the bonus was to be paid. He communicated to the Secretary of the Treasury that he was there with another gentleman to pay the bonus. The Secretary of the Treasury reported that fact to the President, who inquired if it was gold or silver. He was answered that it was neither, but that it was "Texas Star money." The President then required the· Secretary of the Treasury to report all the facts in writing, which report was referred to the Attorney General, Mr. Birdsall, orig.:. inally from the State of New Yo1·k, a very enlightened jurist. He decided that nothing but gold or silver was receivable. The laws previously passed, saying that Texas issues should be receiv- able for public dues, did not authorize the receiving of them for that bonus, because they were not bound to give the bonus; but if they did, they must comply with the law, and it would have required a special law to repeal the effect of the bank law, requir- ing the bonus to be in gold or silver. The President, therefore, ordered the Secretary of the Treasury to receive nothing but gold or silver. That was the original cause of Green's animosity to the Executive. There never was a word of difference between them personally, and I presume there never will be. I should think so, because I have seen that he has been making Fourth of July speeches in Texas, and has broken ground for the Pacific railroad;
Powered by FlippingBook