WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
151
held the office till his death, October, 1839, when E. S. C. Robertson became ·Acting Postmaster General and served until December, 1839, at which time John Rice Jones was again appointed to the office. Jones kept the office until it was abolished in January, 1841. At that time the operation of the postoffice became a bureau of the State Department. The following men served as chief clerks from that time until Texas became a state of the United States in 1845: George W. Sinks; A. C. Hyde; W. D. Miller; John Hall; Daniel J. Toler; and Joseph Daniels. See Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 569; The Q11ctrte1·ly, Texas State Historical Association, II, 100-102; Tke Southwestern Historical Qua.rte,·ly, XX, 107; Post O/)ice Lette1· Book, No. 71, Texas State Library. From this last named source it is possible to ascertain the approximate date upon which each of these clerks was ap- pointed.
TO THE CHIEF OF THE APACHES 1
City of Houston, September 1, 1842. MY BROTHER:- We are far from each other; we have not shaken hands. I have heard from you. The message was peace and friendship. With your son, Antonio, I send my friends, Dr. Cottle and Dr. Tower, with my talk. They will make it to you. If you can come to see me I will make the path between us white, and it shall remain open. There is no blood between us. We have had no wars; your enemies are our enemies. They will not keep friendship with us; they will not tell the truth. When we shake hands we will become friends. Our friendship shall not cease. We shall be friends when people around us are at war. The tomahawk shall never be raised between us. You and your friends shall trade with our people, and you shall buy from us such things as you need, and our price shall not be great. We will buy from you your furs, your horses, and your silver and gold. Treat my friends as brothers, and we will treat you likewise when you come to see us. We shall then write down a treaty which shall not wear out, but shall remain with our children, that they may know their fathers had shaken hands and smoked together the pipe of peace. I hope the Great Spirit may give light to your path, and the clouds of sorrow never rest upon your journey of life. Sam Houston. 1 Exec11tive Reco,·d Book, No. 40, pp. 141-142, Texas State Library. W. C. Crane, Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston, 33-1-335.
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