WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
111
sought to embarrass the country by a diversion of our national energies to party purposes regardless of their country's good. Parties have destroyed nations, but they have never created a country-or history has failed to transmit to us the fact. Texas can maintain but one party-and that must be the Texas party, and its objects, the speedy ancl unqualified recognition of our inde- pendence ancl the liberation of the Santa Fe prisoners. Be pleased to present my regards and my sincere entimation [sic] to my fellow citizens of the meeting. Your friend and fel- low citizen, Sam Houston [Rubric] 1 "Houston's Private Executive Record Book," pp. 144-145, courtesy of Mr. Franklin Williams. For Pilsbury, see-Volume III, 59-60.
To ANDERSON HUTCHINSON 1
Private
City of Houston, May 21st, 1842.
To Hon. Anderson Hutchinson: Dear Judge,
Your favor was handed me by Colonel Ogden. It is painful to hear of the alarms on the frontier; and the more so, as Congress placed it out of my power to render any aid to them. When I attempted to do so, my orders were disregarded, and the Executive left in a hopeless, as well as helpless condition. The vague and perfectly unsatisfactory reports which have reached me, will not allow me to make any calculation. Had facts of al- most any character been given, I could have t?"ied to do something. No Mexicans have been seen, nor has any repo·rt succeeded the first, which leaves ground to believe that all is rumor. No one can act understandingly without information. If my orders could have been obeyed, all would have been well, or at least, my infor- mation would have been more satisfactory. I ordered two hun- dred men of those who met at Bexar-and were so brave-to be engaged and to range for .a few months on the frontier: but no : there was no glory in being useful. I have just written to the United States and said to "those who are fully prepared, and wish to emigrate, that I shall be happy to see them at Corpus Christi between the 20th and 28th of July." I will soon notify our chevalliers of my wishes. This will be too soon, but our brave souls must have action; or, at least, they say
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