WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
442
to the President as a suitable gentleman for the situation of Minister to Mexico. I am not aware to what extent the friends of the Colonel have interested themselves in his behalf. Having known him for more than twenty years, and having had business transactions with him, I have enjoyed the opportunity of form- ing an opinion of his qualifications, for such a position, so far as I am capable of judging of such a matter. He is no doubt a master of the language of the country, and most perfectly acquainted with Mexican character, as well as favorably known to many of the leading men of Mexico, which would afford him many advantages which other men could not command. He is also adroit, in fact, he is well versed in human nature. For more than twenty years he has been on the borders of Texas & Mexico, and has passed much of his time in the latter country. In the late war with Mexico, the Colonel bore an active part & was much relied upon by General Taylor in procuring supplies for his army & in aiding him in his campaigns. In our border wars with the Indians, the Colonel has borne a conspicuous and gallant part. Should it please the President to confer this position, or some similar one upon Col. Kinney, I doubt not but what he would endeavor to meet the highest expec- tations of the Government. Sam Houston. To General L. Cass, Secretary of State, &c &c [Endorsed] : Letter to General Cass January 23, 1860, relat- ing to appointment of a Minister to Mexico. 1 Governors' Letters, 1846-1860, Texas State Library. 2 Henry Lawrence (also found Livingston) Kinney was born near Shus- sbequin, Pennsylvania, June 3, 1814. He was an opportunist and adven- turer of the purest type, and he lived the life and died the death of such an one. In 1830 he left his native state and went to· Illinois, where he engaged in farming and in the mercantile business. There, too, he ac- quired the title of Colonel, by what means is not quite clear. In 1838 he came to Texas, and for several years lived at Brownsville but as early as 1841, in partnership with William B. Aubrey, he engaged in ranching and trading on a large scale, near Corpus Christi, a town he helped to found. The policy of this ranching-trading company was to buy out, or to "freeze out" all smaller ranchers or traders in the locality. Philip Dimitt was perhaps the best known of the unfortunates who suffered at Kinney's hands. Kinney also-engaged in politics and was a senator in the 9th Texas Congress, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1845. Gov- ernor J. Pinckney Henderson appointed him on his staff, and they were
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