WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1844
288
enough to perpetrate any other crime unless he is deterred from its commission by cowardice. The certificate of no such man ought ever to be appended to any official document nor would he be entrusted with access to any archives where the perversion of duty might be rendered subservient to the gratification of private malice, or the advancement of individual interest. If he has been acting as an agent of this Government, I desire to know by what authority and under what circumstances. Sam Houston [Rubric] 1 "Houston's Private Executive Record Book," p. 515, courtesy of Mr. Franklin Williams. For William Bryan, see Volume II, 449. •For Edward Hall, see Houston to Edward Hall, November 3, 1836, in II, 27.
To CHARLES ELLIOTl
Private
Washington, March [no date], 1844. My dear Captain, Your kind and very acceptable favors of the 8th and 22nd inst., reached me; the first after some delay. In the suffering which you experience from ill health and painful anxiety which you endure from your solicitude for your dear little one, I most sincerely sympathize and condole with you. If it were possible to alleviate your suffering and relieve your anxiety, I would do it with the greatest happiness to myself, for I am really not so much absorbed in the cares of business as not to feel for my friends in affliction. All that remains for me is not only to express but to feel a sincere desire for your restora- tion and happiness. During the troubled sc_enes and commotion of the last session of Congress, I should have been delighted to have had you here, though I was well aware that your circumstances rendered it impossible. I have had the pleasure of perusing· your despatch to the Secretary of State and have not failed to give it that attention which its importance demands. Your desires in the case as expressed, are reasonable and on my part I feel no heistancy, so far as I can with propriety, in gratifying your desires. That, though, can only be done through the proper official channel. But as a friend I will communicate with you with much freedom upon the subject. Your remarks in relation to the views that I had heretofore expressed in private correspondence, as well as
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