WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
·202
this message until January and February, 1844. The Hou.ston:ian is not available; so far as the editors know, no complete file of the Houstonion is now in existence. Both the University of Texas Library, and the Texas State Library have a few issues of this paper, but they are mostly photostatic copies. For the text of this message, see ·To the Senate, December 22, 1842, in Volume III, 241-250. •see note No. 2, under To Colonel James Morgan, March 26, 1843, in this volume.
To ROBERT A. I&10N 1
Private
I 1
Washington,; 12th May, 1843.
I
My dear Irion, Often, very often have I thought that I would write to you, and as often have I declined that attempt. I might tender excuses, but when I enquire of my heart, I have none in truth; because the pleasure of communing is such that no press of business would justify my silence. But even now, I can only tell you what the whole world ought to know, if it took any interest in passing events. I have done, and I am now doing, and will do the best that I can, or as I think is best that can be done for poor Texas. I will send you a paper today and from it you will learn something of the complexion of affairs at this time. A day or two since Mr. Jones and Mr. Riddle, the heroes of reports, passed through this place. They had quite a budget from Madam Rumor, and when tested by contact with truth, the whole turned out to be the rich effusions of richer imaginations. What General Thompson said "confidentially" from Mr. Packen- ham to everybody, and what Santa Anna did not say at Perote, about sending me a letter tendering me the appointment of military and political chief of Texas, are rich items. If these things are rumors in Mexico, they are lies in Texas. Santa Anna could not design to repay me by offering me that which I possess already. I gave him his life; and even the Chief Mag- istracy of Texas would be poor requital for such a boon. To be President of Texas is losing business to a man of sensibility or sense. But this is too ridiculous. Jones called on me, and was all complaisance; and you would have supposed that had it been needful he would as soon have told a fib for me as against me! We hear that General Rusk is soon to be on the march with the advance of the "grande armie," for the 1·eduction of the
Powered by FlippingBook