WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1844
268
Done at Washington, the 17th day of February, A. D. 1844 and of the Independence of the Republic the eighth. By the President Sam Houston Anson Jones, Secretary of State. 1 Procla.mations of the P1·esidents, Revu.blic of Texas; also Executive Rec- ord Book, No. 45, p. 88, Texas State Library. In the copy in "Proclamations of the Presidents, Republic of Texas," the following note is enclosed: "The Consul at the Port of New Orleans will have the_above Proclamation pub- lished in one of the New Orleans papers.-Anson Jones, Secretary of State."
TO J. PINCKNEY HENDERSON 1
Private
Washington, Texas, 20th February, 1844. Dear General, As Captain John G. Tod 2 will leave here to- morrow for Washington City, I avail myself of the opportunity to write you a short note. The Secretary of State informed me last evening that he would have the requisite despatches ready to send you, made out in accordance with the understanding generally when you left here, and leaving points which may arise pretty much to your wisdom and discretion with that of your coadjutor. You can well judge what will be proper and necessary, and you will find in the state papers of the United States precedents·and principles laid down in the case of the cession of Florida as well as that of Louisiana to the Union. The cases are not the same, to be sure, but the similarity will aid you in many points. These, as also the instruc- tions of General S. F. Austin to the Hon. William H. Wharton on the subject of annexation (which is a lucid and beautiful state paper) will enable you to take a clear and comprehensive view of the subjects upon which your action will be required. Other suggestions will be made you by the Secretary of State, and I trust you will be enabled to succeed in the great work. You will endeavor to secure [justice] to our citizens whose land fell into the United States when the line was run. I am one, to be sure, but this fact ought not to be regarded, unless .i ustice and cor- rect principles accord it to me. Texas made provision for those whose ]ands fell into Texas, and each settler, as well as I recollect, received a league of land, as though they had been original settlers in Texas. If the treaty should be made, the just claimants v,•ho had located lands on valid grants under Mexico previous to the
Powered by FlippingBook