WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1843
368
policy of the government is pursued and sustained, that within six months our country will have peace and our citizens security. Responsible duties devolve upon the cabinet: but they can be responded to by vigilance, constancy and patriotism. The means afforded to sustain the government are not sufficient for its necessities; but we must cut the garment to the cloth, so as to make out a covering for the infirmities of our situation. I have confidence in a speedy i:rp.provement in our circum- stances. With honesty of purpose, caution and common sense in design, sustained by firmness and energy in execution, we will effect everything desirable that can be achieved with our means, and by economy they may be so husbanded, as to meet the most urgent wants of our condition. At your pleasure, you will take control of the Department, which Mr. Shaw, the Acting Secretary will be happy to place at your disposition. Sam Houston. 1 Houston Letters, 1896-1860; also Executive Record Book, No. 40, 241, Texas State Library. 2 James B. Miller was born and reared in Kentucky. He came to Texas in 1828, settled at San Felipe, and from the beginning of his life in Texas enjoyed the friendship and confidence of Stephen F. Austin (See Lamar Papers, III, 256). He entered a partnership with Dr. R. R. Peebles for the practice of his profession in 1829; and subsequently became a partner with Alexander Somervell in the mercantile business at San Felipe. In 1835, he was the Political Chief for the Department of the Brazos, but was super- ceded by Wyly Martin in July of that year (See The Quarterly, Texas State Historical Association, IV, 198). He was chosen by the Convention of 1833 as one of the three delegates to go to Mexico City to present the petition of the Convention to the Mexican Government (See E. C. Barker, The Life of Stephen F. Austin, 421); he did ·not go on that commission, because of . the outbreak of cholera, and his feeling that it was his duty as a physician · to remain and do what he could for the victims of that scourge (See Brown, History of Texas, I, 253). But he was a member of the Legislature at Saltillo in 1834, the legislature that created the Department of the Brazos (See Gammel, Laws of Texas, Decree No. 270, p. 355), and later he was appointed its political chief. In 1835, Miller was one of the leaders of the "Peace Party." He thought that the declaration of Texan independence was premature, but after its adoption he gave the measure his hearty support. He sat in the Fifth Texan Congress as senator from the district of Austin, Colorado, and Fort Bend. As the document above shows, Houston appointed_ him Secretary of the Treasury, May 3, 1843, but the official appointment and confirmation to this position was not made until December 20, 1843. See E. W. Winkler (ed.), Secret Journals of the &mate, Republic of Texas, 1896-1845, 281-283. He was a delegate from Fort Bend County in 1845
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