65
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
PROCLAMATION CONCERNING THE COLONIAL CONTRACT OF HENRY. FRANCIS FISHER AND BURCHARD 1VIILLER 1 [Proclamations of the Presiclents, Republic of Texas; Texas State Library. Texas State Gazette, November 3, 1849.]
TO ALPHONSE DE SALIGNY 1
Houston, June 8, 1842.
To Hon. M. de Saligny,2 Charge d'Affaires, etc., etc. Sir, Your note of 6th June instant, in relation to the sum of $4,280, 3 (Texas money) deposited by you in the office of the Stock Commissioner, for funding, has been received. I cannot possibly inform you of the true reasons or motives which could have actuated the Government, or its functionary, in thus withholding from you the Bonds and 1·efusing to return to you the money when requested; though I hope it was no part of that system of persecution of which you were the object. I have no power to make you the reparation which you request, for Mr. Pontois, but I will avail myself of the occasion of the approaching special session of Congress to represent to that Honorable Body, the circumstances of this claim, and to recom- mend the same to their prompt attention. Sam Houston 1 G. P. Garrison (ed.), Divlomatic Corres71onclencc of the Republic of Texas, III, 1370-1371. :?Alphonse de Saligny, Secretary of the French Legation at 'Washington, D.C., 1838; Secret Agent of the French Government to Texas to inspect the country and the conditions and make report concerning the French influence in the country, 1839; chctrge d'afjaires to Texas, 1839-1841, and for a short time in 1842; again charge from 1845 to 1846. For diplomatic relations between France and Texas, and Saligny's influence thereon, see Garrison, Diplomatic Co1Tespondence of the Repl!bfic of Texas, II, III vassim.. Also see Houston to the House of Representatives, July 16, 1842. 3 Charles DeMorse was Stock Commissioner for the Texas Republic in 1840. He left a memorandum which explains this money. His statement is that on November 27, 1840, M. de Saligny deposited with him, at the Stock Commissioner's office, the sum of $4,280 in Promissory Notes of the Texan Government, to be invested in the funded debt of the Republic. DeMorse told Saligny at the time of deposit that the term fixed by law for the issuing of ten per cent bonds had expired, and that Saligny would be entitled only to eight per cent stocks, but that engraved certificates of that stock had not been received by the Government, therefore, he stated that such bonds could not be delivered immediately, but if Sal:gny would call in a few days they could be delivered to him. DeMorse gave Saligny
Powered by FlippingBook