108
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
removal of the archives from Austin on December 30, 1842, and staunchly stood by his department in holding the papers at Austin. In fact,· through- out his life he proved again and again that in any emergency demanding coolness and courage he could be relied upon. He was financial agent for the Confederate States at Austin during the Civil War, and in 1865, an attempt was made by lawless persons to coerce him into surrendering this money. The matter seemed desperate; armed men went to his office and demanded the money, threatening to kill him if he did not surrender it. He flatly refused, telling the mob that they might kill him, but that they would never make him give up the money. Subsequently, be turned over all the money in his possession to James H. Raymond, who was appointed by the Governor to receive it. Durham made a detailed report of his custody of the money, a report that proved highly satisfactory. . On December 16, 17, 1850, there was a government sale of town lots in the town of Austin, complying with the order of Comptroller James B. Shaw. The sale was at the Land Office on Congress Avenue at the site now occupied by the Scarbrough store. George J. Durham, chief clerk of the Comptroller's Office, was the auctioneer. Five hundred and fifteen lots, including some on the Avenue, were sold for some $17,000, an aver- age of $33 per lot. The terms were one-third cash, the balance in two payments, at six and twelve months, in equal installments. The law required that $10,000 of the amount should be applied to the construction of a fire-proof land office building. The building was constructed. See Frank Brown, "Annals of Travis County, and of the City of Austin," Chap- ters XIV, 31; XXIV, 4; XXVIII, 4.
To S. M. SWENSON 1 Executive Department, Austin, July 24, 1860.
To Mr. S. M. Swenson, Present. Sir: You will start provisions without unnecessary delay, and deliver at Fort Belknap to Colonel M. T. Johnson, or to the Quarter Master at that point, Twenty one Thousand complete Rations under your contract to furnish supplies. Sam Houston.
1 E:i:ccutive Records, 1859-1861, p. 201, Texas State Library.
To CLEMENT R. J oHNs 1 Executive Department, Austin, July 24, 1860.
Hon. C. R. Johns, Comptroller Sir: The troops on the Rio Grande who were mustered, or remustered into service after the passage of the Regiment Bill (2nd of January, 1860) should receive the pay prescribed by that bill and no more.
_____.
l
Powered by FlippingBook