The Writings of Sam Houston, Volume VIII

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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860

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To CLEMENT R. JoHNS 1 Executive Department, Austin, May 3rd, 1860.

Hon. C.R. Johns, Comptroller Sir: You will please furnish this Department at the very earliest possible moment with authenticated copies of the ac- counts with vouchers, of Oldham & Marshall and John Marshall as public Printers prior to the time of awarding the present printing contract. Sam Houston. 1 Com-71t?-ollers' Letters; Execuf.ive Reco,·ds, 1859-1861, p. 144, Texas State Library.

TO JACOB THOMPSON 1

Executive Department, Austin, May 1, 1860. To the Honorable Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Interior Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge your communication of the 31st of March. Other subjects not entirely disconnected with the substance of your letter have demanded my incessant atten- tion. I allude to the defence and preservation of the lives of our citizens, as well as to secure their property. I regret that a misapprehension of my former letter on your part, was induced by using the expression "Witchita river," in copying my letter, instead of North of Red 'river ovposite the mouth of Big ·witchita. This arose from the fact that the Wichita is confounded with the Witchitas of Texas which empty into Red River west of the 98th degree of longitude. It was at, or near this point on the north side of Red river and out of the limits of Texas, where I proposed the treaty, should be held, or on Cashe creek, about fifteen miles within the Indian territory. It was not my intention to bring the Texians and Indians in contact, but to prevent such a catastrophe. You have not a more just, and at the same time a more in- dignant detestation of the course pursued towards the Reserved Indians than I myself, nor for the lawless and base assassination of Major Neighbors. 2 The recollection of these things is too painful to dwell upon, and had a competent Executive ruled Texas, they would not have occurred, in my opinion.

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