138
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
Markham was considered to be a very excellent physician; he became the family doctor of General Houston's family, and was with the General at the time of his death. See Encyclopedia, of the New West, I, 484-485. TO MESSRS. B. W. ROBINSON AND OTHERS 1 Executive Department, Austin, September 10, 1860. Messrs. B. W. Robinson, B. W. Walker, John L. Roe, Directors of the State Penitentiary. Gentlemen: By reference to my detailed orders and instruc- tions~ of the 24th of January last, you will find that I required the board to perform certain duties by which they would be able to vindicate the administration as well as the officers of the Insti- tution, so that the former management could be contrasted with the present administration when it shall have expired. I deem this necessary to vindicate the· conduct and character of all the officers concerned. You have, gentlemen, neither performed the duties assigned to you, nor have you rendered any excuse for your neglect. The other day I received a scrap of paper, purporting to be a report of the Board upon which I promptly endorsed "unsatisfactory" and referred you to my instructions of the 9th of April, to B. W. Robinson,3 as well as those to the Board on January 24th. The report which I returned to Colonel Carothers would certainly cut a very conspicuous figure in the official files of the Executive office, or before the Legislature, if it should be called for. If it is the intention of the Board not to execute my orders to the letter, I shall be glad to receive information to that effect without further delay. From my knowledge of the gentlemen's disposition, who compose the Board, as well as from our personal and social relations, I will not allow myself to conclude that it was their intention to withhold the reports for the purpose of offering disrespect to me individually. My duties are too arduous and incessant to enable me to give more than one order for one purpose. Hence, it is expected that my orders will be obeyed. I have omitted in my first instructions to direct a report of every convict that had escaped and every one taken as the circum- stances attending it. By reference to my short note of the other day to Colonel Carothers, you will find what I have required in the case of Kuykendall.' I will address another letter to you so
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