The Writings of Sam Houston, Volume VII

15

WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1824-1857

To A. J. DoNELsoN 1

Galveston, Texas, December 9, 1845. Nothing but bustle [?],business, idleness, and laziness have pre- vented me from writing to you, and giving the chain of friend- ship a rub to keep it bright. 2 Not that I deem it needful, but by way of increasing the chances of hearing from you, and your most estimable family. To us they are truly so, for I assure you that neither time, nor distance has, in the least abated our regard for them, nor have they ceased to be objects of affectionate ad- miration. Your absence caused us the only unhappiness, which we experienced at Tulip Grove, and that was sympathy for Mrs. Donelson, whose anxiety for your safety, and return, was im- measurably great. I feared for your return myself, or I would have left, the Cane which I intended for you, and will send it on by the first chance, so soon as I return home, where it is now. You are now remote, enough in situation for the people here as well as myself, to appreciate your conduct, and bearing while engaged here, in your important and manly duties, manly, for you rendered all your duties, manly and noble. Your bearing insured you success, for had you acted as others did, instead of having the people and the honest patriotic portion of the community with you, you would have arrayed them against you, and raised a bother in the affairs of the two nations! Had you been a two penny fellow, such as Governor Wickliffe, 3 or Commodore Stockton," you would have-forfeited the respect of all but such as the clique of this place, and as it now is, you retain the respect, and regard of all but the clique, and I have been told by very clever gentlemen, that they wish you at Old Nick. That is so, I have no doubt. Your ordering your trunk from "Davis free Tavern" was an act of open rebellion. Wickliff and Stockton stood forth, in the first ranks, of his political menagerie! They were the "big beasts," and as for the small ones and monkeys, there was ready material at all times. Such men, such scoundrels, ought to be repudiated, or abated as nuisances. Nothing but respect for President Polk, has prevented the exposure of their conduct. Love,5 you know, is a most rabid Whig, and a great rascal. Well, he is doing all in his power to get a seat in tlie Senate of the U.S. He can't go it, unless the Representatives, deceive the people! My friends have urged me to permit my name to run for the Senate, and I have consented on certain conditions, and they are, that should my friends and the true friends of the country be satisfied that my services are of paramount importance

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