The Writings of Sam Houston, Volume VIII

WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1860

198

February 16th, 1858. I believe that the occasion contemplated by the Resolutions has arrived. The present agitation throughout ~he country, and particularly in the South, arising from the election of a President and Vice President, upon a sectional issue, calls in my opinion, for the calm deliberation of statemen. The assembling of delegates from sovereign States, in a consultative character, and within the scope of their Constitutional powers, "To preserve the equal rights of such States in the Union," may result in the adoption of such measures as will restore harmony between the two sec- iions of the Union. With this hope I commend the enclosed Joint Resolutions to your consideration, and should such a conven- tion be called, I will, upon receipt of information as to the time and place of _assembling, immediately order an election of seven Delegates to represent Texas in the same. Sam Houston. 1 The True Issue, December 6, 1860. To THOMAS CHUBB 1 Executive Department, Austin, Texas, Novr. 14th, 1860. Captain Thomas Chubb Sir: In accordance with the petition of various citizens and merchants of Galveston, you will proceed, at once, to examine and report, under oath, the state and condition of the work recently done upon the excavation of the channel through West Galveston and St. Louis Bays, as also to what stage of comple- tion the work has arrived. So soon as you have made the neces- sary examinations, you will report to this Department. Sam Houston. 1 Executive Records, 1859-1861 p. 250, Texas State Library. Thomas Chubb (June 17, 1811-August 26, 1890) was born in Charles- town, Massachusetts, almost within the shadow of Bunker Hill. He served for a time in the United States Navy; was in business in Boston; engaged in the African slave trade; came to Texas with a shipload of war sup- plies in March, 1836. He was a man of great versatility. When the Civil War broke out, he immediately enlisted in the Confed- erate marine service, and served on the Gulf coast. He was captured in Galveston harbor while in command of the Roycil Yacht, and was carried to the North, a prisoner. After the war, he returned to Galveston, where for many years he held the position of harbor master. Thomas Chubb was married twice: first, in 1828, at the age of seven- teen, his bride, Phoebe Briggs, being only thirteen. Phoebe was the <laugh-

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