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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1844
TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1
Executive Department, Washington, January 27, 1844.
To the Honorable, the House of Representatives:- In reply to a resolution of the House of Representatives, adopted on the 26th instant, relative to any disposition of the Cherokee lands, or any portion thereof, by sale, &c., the President has the pleasure to assure them that no authority by him has ever been given for the sale, hypothecation, or other disposition of any portion of the said territory, except certain authority given to Mr. Alexandre Bourgeois (d'Orvanne) in the spring of 1842, which said authority is fully cancelled by non-compliance with its terms; and the Executive reserved to himself in the event of the negotiation of the loan by this gentleman, the right to approve or reject it. Sam Houston [Rubric] "'Houston's Private Executive Record Book," pp. 471-472, courtesy of Mr. Franklin Williams.
FEBRUARY, 1844
To BENJAMIN SLOAT 1
Washington, February 2d., 1844.
To Benjamin Sloat/ Esq. Sir- From information received from Chism and the Dela- wares, it is thought you might not be very safe in going among the Comanches and Kiowas, until peace is made, on account of the difficulties between the Kiowas and Snively's men, in which you were necessarily a participant. They like you very much, and were it not for this circumstance, would as soon go with you as any other man. You can see and talk with them, and come to some conclusion in your own mind. If you were to think it best to construct a trading house some where near Nolan's river, first going down to Houston and making the necessary arrangements with -the Torreys, it might advance your interests more rapidly than any other course you could adopt. If you should conclude on this course, your pay will go on as usual until the treaty takes place in April. I will want Col. Porter 3 fo have a house, or houses, built at the council grounds on Tahwoccano Creek, that will hold from
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