WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
495
The money set apart for the river fund, should in no case be paid out upon other appropriations. Parties have made contracts upon the faith of this fund, and it should remain subject to the same. As the custom seems to have been to make payments from the Treasury regardless of the claims of the former appropriations, allow me to say that I hope this custom will not be applied to the University fund which is to be used alone for frontier defence. That fund is all that the Legislature has placed at the control of the Executive to defend the frontier. If paid out for other pur- poses, he will not be able to purchase supplies for the troops. If, as I have inferred, a portion of the public fund has already been paid out, will you please inform me the amount, to whom paid, and upon what authority? Sam Houston.
1 Executive Records, 1859-1861, p. 16, Texas State Library.
To ELKANAH GREER 1
Austin, Texas, 29th Feby., 1860. My dear Sir, Your favor of the 20th Inst. has this moment reached me, and in reply, I can only say that the Legislature adjourned without leaving me a dollar in the Treasury, and all their appropriations were on paper, and contingent. In other words, the State is Bankru,pt, so I have neither money, arms, or munitions ! I am in daily expectation of Despatches from Washington in reply to a Telegram which I sent, some days since, as well as Despatches by Express. So soon as I hear from Washington, I will apprize you of their import. The want of grain as well as grass, on the route to Rio Grande, would render the advance of a force at this time, impracticable.= "We will see," as old Father Ritchie used to say. Sam Houston. General E. Greer 1 Governo1·s' Lette,·s, Texas State Library. Elkanah Greer (1825-March 25, 1877) was born in Mississippi. When he was barely twenty years old the Mexican war broke out. He promptly joined the First Mississippi Rifles, commanded by Colonel Jefferson Davis, and fought in the battles of Monterey and Buena Vista. Upon his return he became major general
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