\VRITINCS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1845
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without means. They are gentlemen, on whom the greatest re- liance may be placed in their public and private relations. Sam Houston [Rubric] To Hon. Wm. L. lVIarcy.:i 'From a photostat, courtesy of Mr. Grant Foreman. ,William Larned Marcy (December 12, 1786....July 4, 1857). Senator from New York (March 4, 1831-January 1, 1833), resigned to become Governor of New York (1833-1839) but failed for reelection. He was the commissioner for Mexican claims, 1839-1842; Secretary of War during Polk's administration (March 5, 1845-March 6, 1849); retired to private law practice, bnt appointed S'ecretary of State in Pierce's administration (March 7, 1853-March 4, 1857). Died at Ballston Spa, New York, and is buried in Rural Cemetery, Albany, New York. He was a Jackson Demo- crat. See Dictionary of .4merican Biogrciphy, XII, 274-277; also Biographical Direct.ory of the American Congress (1928), 1287.
T"o CITIZENS OF RICHMOND, TEXASt
Houston, Texas, Dec. 24, 1845 Gentlemen:- Nothing could have been more agreeable to me than to receive by the hand of Col. D. J. Woodlief,2 your kind and highly complimentary invitation to a "public dinner" coupled as it was with an assurance of your approbation of my public services. · The present time is most favorable for retrospec- tion-Free from the excitements, which have for years agitated the public mind, we have leisure to examine the past, and ask ourselves, could this have been done better? Or how could this have been improved? The result of past labors affords abundant evidences that we have not toiled in vain. It is true that we have suffered privations, we have endured hardships, we have borne reproaches-much blood has been shed, and many gallant spirits have been sacrificed on the altars of 'fexian Freedom. Yet there was no faltering, in the accomplishment of the great work of our emancipation in which a few, gallant, and determined spirits, were engaged, against millions, who sought to enslave us. The Revolution is over, and the great object of Texian statesmen has been achieved, by our annexation to the United States. If at times obstacles were interposed to the success of the measures, it only renders our happiness more perfect in its triumph. The citizens of Texas experience the liveliest joy, in their political transactions, while the millions of the United States will hail with
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