WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1831-1836
18
which Texas asked to be admitted to the Mexican confederation as a state, separate from Coahuila, this sounds amusing.
To JOHN RoBB 1 . Natchitoches, La., 4th October, 1833.
Sir: On my way to this place I had the honor to receive your favor of the 4th of October last, in which you say that in the absence of the Secy of War, you have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of my two letters dated the 30th and 31st of July: One enclosing my accounts. Your reference to the absence of the Secy. of War would imply that my accounts had not been laid before him, but were I to make this conclusion I am satisfied it would be erronious. From dates and newspapers, it appears that he must have been in the city when my accounts arrived, and of course, they had his decision, as well as his consideration. As to the character given to the accounts by the designation of "Special Agent" 2 I am perfectly willing to waive that and rely · upon the service performed - my letter from the War Depart- ment - my letter from Mr. Ellsworth and my understanding with the President of the U. States. When (or very soon after) I received the letter from the De- partment, I called upon the President of the United States and after informing him of the letter, suggested to him my intention to decline the agency assigned me by the letter, and as one among other grounds, because there was no fixed allowance, or com- pensation stated in the letter. He assured me that the latter would be "just and liberal." Satisfied with the assurance in con- nection with the letter, I undertook and performed the duty, at an inclement season of the year. No facilities were afforded me by the Government, [except] a pack mule for two hundred miles through a wilderness and many hundreds of miles of wilderness yet left to travel. I believe the duty was as ably performed, as it could have been, means, or no means furnished, and as faith- fully as I know it was, or as it could have been done by any man. Were the same service to be performed again and the amount charged by me guaranteed, I would not perform the same service - but tis now done. I regretted to see that the amount of my account; or my charges, should be objected to on the score that they were "higher than those usually allowed." If the hazards of the trip and the exposure of constitution should be compared to that of any per- son employed in the Indian Department, and then determined
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