WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
492
commanded a company in the Mexican War, but was back in Texas to run for the State Legislature in 1849, only to be defeated by "Buckskin" (William M.) Williams, of Lamar County. In 1851, however, he was elected representative from Fannin, Grayson, and Cooke Counties, and served continuously until 1861. He made .a famous speech in the Legisla- ture of 1861, against secession. In 1860, Governor Houston sent him to Mexico to try to settle the Mexican troubles on the Rio Grande. In 1866 he was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and during the same year he served as Comptroller of the state; and in 1866 he was appointed judge of the 8th Judicial District. Before the war he was a Whig and a strong unionist; after the war he became a staunch Republican. In 1845 he married Epsey, daughter of Thomas E. Hardway, of Green- ville, Georgia. They had twenty-one children, several of whom became prominent professional men of Texas. Even in his old age Judge Taylor never ceased to take a keen interest in the affairs of the state, and was -regarded as one of the best informed men of the southwest. See William DeRyee, Texas Albmn of the Eighth Legislature, p. 178; W. S. Carter, History of Fannin County, pp. 127-128. To J. M. SWISHER AND OTHERS 1 Executive Department, Austin, February 25th, 1860. To J. M. Swisher, S. M. Swenson, Sampson & Hendricks, John Bremond, Larenburg & Company Gentlemen: Please state what you believe to be the value of U[nited] States 5o/o Bonds-Texas Indemnity-in New York. At what price are you willing to cash these bonds at the Treasury in Austin, or at what price will you take them in pay-:- ment of Treasury warrants? What price have you paid for said Bonds since the 1st of January last, and what price have you realized for such as you may have cashed? Sam Houston. 1 Executive Records, 1859-1861, p. 15, Texas State Library. The addressees were all banking firms of Austin, Texas. To JoHN H. CoNNER 1 Executive Department, Austin, February 27, 1860. Captain John H. Conner, Commanding Company Rangers Sir, Your dispatches per Mr. Howard are to hand and on file in this Department. The horses taken you will turn over to their proper owners as soon as you have ascertained whose they are. Should any of them fail to be claimed, and they are needed for the use of your command, you will not hesitate to put them in the
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