WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1838
297
his formal appointment, was returned to the President-Lamar-December 12, 1838 (See E. W. Winkler (ed.), Sec1·et Journals of the Senate, Republic of Texas, 1886-1845, 116) and was lost, for Lamar, on December 24, 1838, (ibid., 119), nominated William Bryan consul of New Orleans. There was a bitter rivalry between Toby and Bryan, first, for the position of agent to the Texas Republic, then as consul (See The Southwestern Historical Quar tc1·ly, XXXIII, 207-214) of Texas at New Orleans. 10 George Lane. M'rabeau B. Lamar succeeded Houston as President of the Republic of Texas, December 10, 1838, and on December 12, Stephen H. Everett, senator from Jasper and Jefferson, moved that all nominations and resignations then before the Senate should be 1·eturned to the new President for his approval. (E. W. Winkler (ed.), Secret Journals of the Se1uite, Repnblic of Texas, 1886-1845, 116.) Naturally Lamar did not ap- prove the nominations that had not been confirmed, since they were Hous- ton's choice, and he had his own polit'cal followers to satisfy. At the close of Lamar's administt-ation, however, with Houston again in the presidential office, George Lane was nominated Notary Public of Panola County, and the Senate confirmed the nomination. (See ibid., 220.) In 1861 he was Chief Justice of Harrison County. (See E. W. Winkler (ed.), Jo1mials of the Texas Secession Convent·ion, 418.) 11 For the same reason that George Lane's nomination was not confirmed, John Hubert's was also lost. 12 Alexander Horton's nomination was confirmed before Houston's term had expired, and he took his office as Collector for the District of San Augustine. (See Houston to Alexander A. Horton, July 15, 1837.) 13 John Sharp's nomination was confirmed. (See Secret Journals of the Senate, 221.) John Sharp came to Texas in 1835. He participated in the Storming of Bexar, December, 1835, and was reenlisted in Captain Calder's company. He died August 17, 1840. See Dixon and Kemp, Hei·oes of San Jacinto, 284; also, The Brctzos Co1u-ier, September 1, 1840. 14 R. D. Johnson. No available biographical information. 15 Thomas Harvey. No available information. 10 John Alexander Newlands. See Houston to Robert A. Irion, January 23, 1837. 17 William Fairfax Gray was a citizen of Fredericksburg, Virg:nin, who was sent out in 1835, to investigate lands and other conditions in Texas for land agencies and companies. He remained in Texas until April, 1836, and served as a clerk of the Convention of March 1-17, 1836. William F. Gray was an intelligent, well-educated man. He kept a diary of his life from the time he left Fredericksburg until the latter part of 1837. This diary has become one of the best sources for the do·ngs of the Convention, and for the evidence given before that body by the negro "Joe" of the events during the siege and fall of the Alamo, for Joe was one of the persons saved from the massacre. He had been the servant of William Barret Travis. Gt·ay's Dia1-y is also valuable for first hand information concerning various other phases of life in the New Republic, and of the men who made up the personnel of its government. In 1838, Gray moved to Texas with his family and settled at Houston. He died there in 1841. See F1·orn Virg-inia to Texas 1·n 1895, Dicoy of Col. Willicrm F. Grcry, page 87, etc., 71assim.
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