WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1844
543
2 Louis Hargous, an American merchant doing business in Vera Cruz and Mexico, was kind to the Mier prisoners in many ways: he gave them sup- plies from his own establishment in time of their direst need, and advanced money to them, individually and collectively, to allay, if possible, their suffer- ing at Perote. See two manuscript diaries on the Mier Expedition: one, the Glasscock Diary, at the Texas State Library; the other, the McCutchan Diary, at Rosenberg Library. Both diaries were written by Mier prisoners while in Mexico, and both frequently mention the kindness of Mr. Hnrgous. Also see George Lockhart Rives, The Unitrd States and Mexico, lBBl-1848, II, 511, and Houston to Charles B. Young, October 16, 1843. In this last cited source, Houston expresses the hope that Hargous can soon be repaid for his kindness to the Mier men. COLONIZATION CONTRACT WITH CHARLES FENTON MERCER AND HIS ASSOCIATES: JANUARY 29, 1844 [ This document is filed in Colonization Papers, Texas State Library; and is published in The Texas State Gazette, October 20, 1849.]
TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1
Executive Department, Washington, January 30, 1844
To the Honorable, the House of Representatives: In answer to a resolution of your Honorable Body, calling for information in relation to the commission of the Major General of the Militia elected on the 4th of September last, I have to say: that, in consequence of full returns not having been yet received at the State Department, the Executive has not felt himself authorized to issue the commissfon. It is within the bounds of possibility, that the receipt of complete returns might change the result; and as the Executive is bound by the law of the 16th January 1843, to commission "the person receiving the highest number of votes," he could not take .upon himself to judge and decide which of the persons voted for had actually been elected. If the Executive were·left to his own discretion, he would have no hesitancy in commissioning the person who has received the highest number of votes, according to the incomplete returns on file. But not having the discretion under the law, however anxious he may be to issue the commission, he has thus far not considered himself authorized so to do. This being the case, it would seem proper, and it is recom- mended to the Honorable Congress to remedy the existing defect,
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