WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1821-1832
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will take the liberty of placing the matter in a fair and honest point of view. On the 16th of August, I arrived at Nashville. On the 17th, Mr. Erwin addressed his first note to me, which was handed by Major Hockley on the same day, requesting to know of me whether I had, "while at Washington, and pending the appointment of Postmaster, impeached the integrity of his conduct"-to which I replied in my note of the 18th, by my friend Col. McGregor, that I had "impeached the integrity of his conduct." He then handed a note to Col. McGregor, alleging that, owing to the ill health of his family, a further correspondence would be suspended for the present. I left Nashville and was absent on business for a fortnight. The next morning after my return, a note was brought by Col. John Smith, T. of Missouri, to my room. He called me aside to present it, when I referred him to my friend, Colonel McGregor, and left them alone. Col. McGregor refused to receive it; alleging, as he had been instructed by me to do, that this was a home affair, a local and political matter, and that as he was from another state, he could not be recognized in the trans- action. From motives of delicacy towards Col. Smith, and having no wish to court his enmity, these reasons were deemed sufficient at the time. Subsequently, he indicated dissatisfaction with it, the result of which will be found by reference to our correspond- ence marked C. 3 Col. Smith, on receiving from my friend the reason why the proffered communication would not be accepted through him, answered, that he would consider of the objections and return in an hour. Not long afterwards, he came back armed; but instead of pro- ceeding to the room where Col. McGregor had remained to re- ceive him, and through whom only the communication should have come, he sought me, and on the pavement of the Nashville Inn, several persons being present, he requested me to step aside with him, which I did, to the distance of fifteen or twenty paces. He there stated to me that my friend had refused to receive the note through him, the reason which he had assigned for the re- fusal. I told him that Col. McGregor had been so advised by me. He replied, he was satisfied if I saw the note, I would take no exceptions to it. At that moment, Gen. White took his station near to where I was standing, on my right hand, and between myself and the company on the pavement. I took the note from Col. Smith, saying, "walk with me, sir, to my friend; I will refer it to him." Here my attention was attracted by a remark of
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