WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184,2
144
· [Endorsement] : General Terrell's note about Hunt &c., 4th Sept. 1842. 'Original in possession of Mrs. Madge W. Hearne, by whose courtesy this copy has been made. General George W. Terrell's letter to Houston, at the bottom of which Houston's note is written, is as follows: At Office, Sept. 4, 1842. Dear Genl. Our friend Hunt, assuming the fact that the appointment of Secretary of War had been tendered to him, will address you a very polite note this morning, making his acknowledgements in handsome terms for the honor extended to him, &c. And previous to leaving for New Orleans, he will call to pay his respects in person. I presume the General wishes to have it in his power to say to his friends in the U. S. that on the eve of his leaving the country he had the tender of one of the first Cabinet Offices in the gift of the President. I suppose this to be his motive, and as it is innocent, I care not to contradict it, because he is a gentleman whom I esteem very highly. I send you this note, however, in order that you may have it in your power, should it eve1· be necessary, to place the matter in its true light. The General has misinterpreted my conversation with him. I said to him that I regretted much the unfortunate misunderstanding which existed between the Executive and himself-that he was the first gentleman to whom the eyes of the Executive would have been turned to fill the vacancy that had occurred in the Cabinet. That I had heard the President say that he would have tendered him the appointment of Secretary of War, did not the existing relations between them prevent him from doing so. This is precisely the substance of what passed between General Hunt and myself upon the subject. Yours Respectfully G. W. Terrell
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To JOHN C. HAYS City of Houston, 14th September, 1842.
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To Major John C. Hays, My Dear Sir,
You will receive despatches from the War Department, which will relate to your duties on the frontier. Feeling as I do for you a paternal anxiety, arising from an un- interrupted friendship with your gallant father, I write to you unofficially; but will advise you, and you can, if you will, estimate it in a two fold view. The situation of our frontier is very unhappy in its influences upon the prosperity of individuals, as well as upon the general interests, settlement and growth of our country. To remedy existing evils is a matter of primary importance to our situation.
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