WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1844
502
sµbject embraced in the correspondence of the government about which they may think proper to inquire. This course is suggested by the Executive because there are papers in that Department, the publication of which might operate most prejudicially to this country and greatly disoblige · those in correspondence with us; and though their publication may be proper at some future day when our national existence is established upon a firm basis, and the events now passing shall have received the seal of time, that period has not yet arrived. The Executive is also admonished by a recent publication in newspapers, that communications made to the Honorable Congress under the seal of secrecy are liable to receive publicity without the seal of secrecy having been first removed. Hence, he is more anxious to preserve the interests of the nation from being subject to the great prejudice which perfidy and faithlessness to official injunctions might possibly entail upon them. Sam Houston. 1 The Jounzals of the House of Re1n·esentatives of the Republic of Texas, 8th Cong., 1st Sess., pp. 121-124. "Messages of the Presidents," Con- g1·essional Pavers, Eighth Congress; also, E:t:ecutive Record Book, No. 40, pp. 294-296, Texas State Library. The Morning Star, January 6, 1844. Telegraph a.,ul Texas Registe1·, January 10, 1844. The Telegraph's copy was prefaced with the following: President Houston's reply to the House calling for the correspondence on Foreign relations, asked for secrecy; but a member of that body sent a Journal to Dr. Francis Moore, etc., etc." HOUSTON'S OPINION CONCERNING THE TEXAS BOUNDARY 1 [January 1] 1844 As a private citizen Houston is opposed .to any boundary but the Rio Grande. ·He will not assent to any negotiations made between the Government of Texas and the United States, so as to permit the Texians to become subjects of the Constitution of the United States by any compromise with Mexico. We are either freemen, or we are vassals-if the latter, it would imply the power of the U. States to purchase us. If the former 'tis impossible. [ Endorsed] : Opinion of General Houston on Texas Boundary -1844. ilvJil[er Papers, Texas State Library. It is impossible to determine the exact date of this document. It is here printed arbitrarily as if dated Jan- uary 1, 1844.
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