WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1844
538
.arising out of the fact that it is impossible to know that the claim now presented for mail transportation has not already, in part at least, been paid by the proper authority. The books of the Post- office Department at Austin may show charges for money paid on account of the contract in question, and until the proper scrutiny can be had and the facts ascertained, the Executive conceives it would be setting a bad precedent to allow the claim. Many other contractors stand in the same situation with Mrs. Hubert; and if one can be paid, why not others equally deserving. Sam Houston. 1 "Messages of the Presidents," Congressional Pcipers, Eighth Congress; also Executive Record Book, No. 40, pp. 320-321, Texas State Library. Jotu-nals of the House of Re]Jresentcttives of the Re1mblic of Texas, 8th Cong., 1st Sess., p. 392.
TO ISAAC VAN ZAND1' 1
Confidential
Washington, January 29th, 1844.- My dear Van Zandt : 2 I have to acknowledge the receipt of your several notes, but the want of time and the indisposition of my family have prevented me, until now, from replying. At all times it affords me pleasure to hear of and from you. Congress being in session has engrossed much of my time. No definitive action has yet taken place, in relation to our posi- tion towards the United States, so far as Congress has been concerned. What they will do, I cannot pretend to say-their session will soon terminate. The Secretary of State and myself have this moment had a conversation. He will communicate with you in a day-or two on the subject of it. In the meantime I will state to you, that the instructions to suspend negotiations on the subject of annexation will be revoked-leaving the matter open as it had before been. Should the indications on the part of the Congress of the United States justify the course, you will promptly open negotiations ,and conduct them with the most profound secrecy. We must keep •our eye to this fact, that should the United States not be willing to consummate the policy of annexation, it might with other nations be a serious compromittal to us and prove greatly pre- judicial to our future negotiations with them. My opinion is, that your situation will enable you to ascertain from the circumstances -every day occurring with that Government, the Congress being
Powered by FlippingBook