WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, l8ti2
61
Notwithstanding the continued excitement, which has been kept up against Col. Kinney and yourself, nothing connected with either of you has ever incurred my reprehension. For your willingness to make the troops comfortable and facili- tate the wishes of the government, I feel under two-fold obliga- tion to you-one as a patriot, the other as a gentleman. With sincere wishes for your happiness and the speedy release of your partner, I am your obedient servant and friend, Sam Houston. 1 Executive Record Book, No. 40, pp. 94-95, Texas State Library. 2 W. P. Aubrey and Colonel Henry L. Kinney were partners in large 1·anch interests and in mercantile trade at the point now known as Corpus Christi. They had a great deal of trouble in establishing their title to the lands that they had bought. For an account of the troubles to which Houston here refers see L<t·mcw Pcivers, IV, Pt. 1, pp 211-214, and Pt. 2, p. 202. 3 See Houston to Captain Ephraim McLain, April 13, 1842. ·1 See the appointment of James Davis Adjutant General, May 3, 1842.
To COLONEL JAMES DAv1s 1
New Washington, May 26th, 1842. To Col. James Davis/ Acting Adjutant General, Texas Army. Sir- Your official letter of the 20th instant, accidentally met me at this point, and its import has been considered. I have no hesitation in ordering the entire restoration of the property taken from the Mexicans, as well as their release, and suitable convoy so far as you may think proper on their way home. The convoy should not venture so far as to incur any danger to its safety. But Captain McLean 3 will be the proper officer to take charge of the execution of your order on this subject. The Mexicans will have leave to trade at the Rancho to any extent which they may desire, in all things else than munitions of war and arms. They have heretofore been invited to come trade with us, by repeated proclamations; and no prohibition has yet been issued by this government; and until those who have been in the habit of trading, know that they are prohibited by orders of this government, I should deem it an act of outrage and oppression to deprive them of their property; and, therefore, I order their liberation and the restoration of all their property. You will find in my suggestions to you, that I left the subject of trade to your discretion, as you would be more capable of
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