WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
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A PROCLAMATION CONCERNING SELF-APPOINTED TEXAS AGENTS 1
Galveston, April 25, 1842. Whereas it has been represented to the President, that certain individuals are passing through various parts of the United States, and are claiming to be Agents of Certain "Committees of Vigilance and Safety," and are receiving contributions and aids to assist in forwarding and sustaining, with suitable imple- ments, emigrants to Texas; and who represent the preparations in this Republic of a warlike character, as the work of such com- mittees, and not originating with the Executive: And where- as said Agents have offered Commissions to gentlemen who were about to emigrate, as they say, by the authority of General A. Sidney Johnston, whom they represent as in command of the Army of Texas : And Whereas in the year of 1835 and 1836, many persons represented themselves as Agents of Texas in the United States to receive contributions from private munificence and thereby received large sums which they appropriated to their own use, or squandered it in dissipation, without making any return to Texas or the Government, and were infamous im- postors: This is therefore, to apprise the generous and liberal friends of Texas in the United States that it is hoped no money or means will be placed in the hands of ·any person or persons from Texas, who are not appointed by the President, or by his Orders: Inas- much as the aids which have been already contributed to the Agents of said Committees by our noble and generous friends, have not been reported to the government and are therefore, not available to the use of the cause for which they were designed, it is desired that no more may be placed at their disposition, but in the hands of the Government Agents and reported to the prin- cipal Texian Agent at New Orleans, and a duplicate report to the Secretary of War at Houston; also, all contributions which may be hereafter afforded. Now, be it known that I, Sam Houston, President and Com- mander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of Texas, do, by these presents declare, that all representations which have been made, or may be made, by persons from, or of Texas, not appointed by the President, or under his orders, are calculated to mislead the friends of Texian emigration and are therefore disavowed by the Executive. It is further declared that the war in which Texas is involved is a national war, and one of principle, which has for
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