WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1821-1832
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For the foregoing statements I am responsible either within my own knowledge, or upon the word of highly respectable gentlemen, whose names are not secret. It is suggested that a surren [der] of his printing establish- ment must take place before he can receive the appointment. In answer to this, I will only suggest that it would be an easy matter ...:: 1 From the collection of Mrs. Madge W. Hearne. See below: Houston to Erwin, August 18, 1826; Houston to John Smith, T., September 8, 1826; Houston to the Public, September 12, 1826. ~The end of the letter is missing.
To JOHN P. ERWINL
Nashville, 18th Aug. 1826. Sir-Your letter of last evening is received. You point me to no particular charge made against you at Washington, hence am I unable to return any particular reply. In opposing your appointment, I was acting in my official character, and vindi- cating from assault, the rights of those whom I represented in Congress. On that occasion I did make statements "impeaching the integrity of your conduct." I then believed them true, and nothing has since transpired to induce an alteration of the opin- ion then entertained. Sam Houston Mr. John P. Erwin. 1 Ncitional Banne1· and Nashville Whig, September 6, 1826. Professor W. C. Binkley, of Vanderbilt University, through whose courtesy the above document was secured, also informs us that John P. Erwin, who was editor of the Nashville Whig from October, 1823, to April, 1826, and postmaster of Nash- ville from 1826 to 1829, was the son-in-law of Henry Clay. We are also indebted to Dr. Binkley for the three succeeding documents.
To JORN SMITH, T 1
Nashville, T. 8th Sept. 1826. Sir-Your note has been received, and this is the reply I have to make. An engagement with some of my friends prevented earlier attention: In refusing to receive the challenge presented by you, my friend, Col. McGregor, was directed to object to you for the reason you ·were not a resident of the state, and because the dispute between
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