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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
437
was a signer of both the Declaration of Texan Independence and of the first Texas Constitution. In 1845 he was a member of the convention of 1845 that accepted annexation, and was the only native Texan who sat in that body. Prior to this service he had served (1838) as a representative from the Bexar district to the Texas Congress; in 1840, he was one of the commissioners chosen by President Lamar to accompany the ill-fated Santa Fe Expedition. This service cost him years of imprisonment in Mexico, separation from his family, and the loss of a great part of his personal property. After annexation he served as Senator from Bexar County in the State Legislature, and while in that service, he died at San Antonio, his native city. Jose Antonio Navarro was always a staunch Democrat in politics, a man of intelligence and of great simplicity of manner, united with a Spanish dignity that was both pleasing and impressive. See Lamar Pavers, passim, (six vols.); Z. T. Fulmore, The Histo111 of Texas as Told i1i County Names, 82; Thrall, A Pictorial Histo1·y of Texas, 596; S. H. Dixon, The Men Who Made Texas Free, 243-247. To THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1 Executive Department, City of Austin, January 21, 1842. To the Honorable, the House of Representatives: I herewith respectfully submit, for the consideration of your Honorable Body, the accompanying statement of the Auditor, in relation to the propriety of making some provision by law for supplying [remedies for J the dangerous defects at present exist- ing in the system of accounting and disbursing officers of the government. The Congress will at once perceive that, for the want of the necessary aids and checks in the transaction of the public business, the country is liable to suffer losses incomparably heavier than the expense required to obviate them. Though almost hopeless of obtaining the necessary facilities for conducting the government properly and safely, I neverthe- less conceive it my duty to lay upon the Congress all the informa- tion which may possibly lead to the attainment of an object so deeply affecting the public interests. Sam Houston. 1 Executive Reco1·d Book, No. 40, p. 23, Texas State Library. TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1 Executive Department, City of Austin, January 21st, 1842. To the Honorable , the House of Representatives: I have the pleasure to lay before your Honorable Body a report from the Honorable, the Attorney Genera]/ showing the destitute
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