The Writings of Sam Houston, Volume IV

WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184,2

82

Abolitionism m,d the Annexcition of Texas, in the Southwestern Historical Q11a,·te1·ly, XXXII, 194, shows that he was a Massachusetts man, and that in July, 1843, he and Louis Tappan of New York, claiming to be Texas agents, were members of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society which met at London. These men reported that Houston and other leading men of the Republic of Texas were in sympathy with the abolition cause. He died in 1886. For some indication of the amazing versatility of Andrews see the sketch in Dictionary of Americcm Biogravhy, I, 298. A POSTSCRIPT TO THE LETTER TO I. W. BURTON, MARCH 17, 1842 1 An express from the West and Austin reports that San An- tonio has been sacked and abandoned by the enemy. They have retreated to the Rio Grande. The troops of the East must be organized and a part of them ready to march when called into service. The war shall be prosecuted against Mexico, and we must be ready. As the enemy are not pressing upon us, now is our time for earnest preparation. Houston [Rubric] "'Houston's Private Record Book," courtesy of Mr. Franklin Williams. The letter to which it should be attached is published in Volume II, 507. 'Ihe copy in the public documents does not have the postscript, otherwise it is identical with the copy in Houston's private r~cords. INSTRUCTIONS TO COUNT LEONTIO DE NARBONNE 1 Executive Department, City of Houston, March 19th, 1842. To Count Narbonne, Sir,- You will proceed to Nacogdoches, and from there to where I wish you to meet the Indians on our North Western border. You will treat with them for peace,- you may assure them that they shall have commerce with our frontier and that our traders will purchase their mules and such other articles of trade as they may bring to the trading houses. They will find such articles procured for them as they may wish to trade for. You are aware of my views and I refer them to your discretion. The Indians all know me, either personally, or from character. You can let them know that I am at this time the the Chief of Texas, but have not been so for the last three years. You may get Manuel Sanchez at Nacogdoches to accompany you to the Indians nearest to that point by the route most con- venient for you to pursue in effecting the object to be attained. Sam Houston [Rubric] 1 "Houston's Private Executive Record Book," p. 76, courtesy of Mr. Franklin Williams.

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