373
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184-l
prevent a useless, or wanton expenditure of the people's sub- stance! Sam Houston. 1 Austin City Gazette, August 25, 1841, Texas Sentinel, August 26, 1841, Colorado Gcizette & Adve,·tiser, September 4, 1841. There is no way to know certainly to whom this letter was written, but it was probably to the editor of the Austin City Gcizette. All the anti-Houston publicat:ons had been making much for some time of the fact that Houston had been quite frank in declaring he thought the capital of Texas should be removed from Austin in order the better to protect the national archives. It became circulated that Houston had said if he were elected President "Austin should be deserted and grass would grow in its streets." His political opponents used this as propoganda against him, and the papers after June, 1841, all carry arguments-pro and con--eoncerning Houston and what he was sup- posed to have said. It seems that an editor wrote Houston and asked if the rumor were true. This letter is Houston's reply. The Sentinel and the Austin City Gazette were both anti-Houston; the Colorado Gazette & Adver- tiser was pro-Houston. 2 See Harriet Smither (ed.), The Journals of the Fourth Congress, II, 92-95, also the Texas Sentinel, June 20, 1840.
ACCEPTING AN lNVITATON TO MAKE A SPEECH 1
August 14th, 1841.
To I. N. Moreland, and Others- 2 Gentlemen :- Your note requesting me to address the citizens of Houston, in the leading measures, which may result during the next administration of the government has been received. Should the steam boat not leave Houston, before tomorrow evening, I will feel no hesitation in giving my views on any subject which con- cerns the interest of the country. I am here on private business only ; it will not be in my power to postpone the address longer than to-morrow evening. Sam Houston. 1 The Houstonian (Extra), August 16, 1841. 2 The invitation to which the above letter is the answer is as follows: "Houston August 14, 1841. "Gen. Sam Houston, Dear Sir-The undersigned in behalf of your friends in the county of Harr:s, most respectfully 1·equest that you address the citizens in the city of Houston, upon the leading measures, which may result during the next administration, at as early a period as will meet your convenience." The invitation is signed with thirty-six names. If Houston made the speech on August 15, as he seems to promise to do, it has not been found.
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