WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1843
499
To THOMAS WILLIAM w ARO 1 Executive Department, Washington, December 28th, 1843. To Thomas William Ward, Esquire, Commissioner of the General Land Office Sir- It is desirable that you proceed to the City of Austin with as little delay as possible, and take in charge the archives generally remaining at that place; and particularly the archives pertaining to your office. So soon as you have obtained possession of them, you will place them in a situation of the greatest safety and preservation; and when you shall have arranged them and are in a condition to issue patents, you will report the same to the Executive, who will direct your further action thereon. You will remain at that point and hold the papers in your possession subject to the future action of the Congress of the Republic. The importance of the public archives and the cond.ition of the country in reference to the great interests involved, will inculcate upon you, as the head of an important department of the govern- ment, the punctitality and particularity with which your duties should be discharged ; and I take much pleasure in communicating to you that, in addition to the late expression of senatorial confi- dence, you possess the confidence of the Executive. Sam Houston. 1 Compt?-olle1·'s Letters; also Executive Record Book, No. 40, p. 293, Texas State Library. See Houston to Thomas William Ward, April 4, 1842.
TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1
(Secret)
Executive Department, ·washington, December 29, 1843.
To the Honorable, the House of Representatives: I herewith transmit to your Honorable Body, a note from the Department of War and Marine in refercnce to the present condition of the naval vessels of the Republic, to which I im·ite the particular attention of the Congress. The character of the information now submitted will fully explain the reasons of the Executive for making this communica- tion under the seal of secrecy. Sam Houston. 1 Exec1ttive Reco,·d Book, No. 40, p..294, Texas State Librar~•.
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