502
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 184,7
This application is made without the knowledge of Genl Rusk. I will be gratified if you can find a place for the Youth. He is idle! Sam Houston Robert John [some authorities say James] Walker (July 19, 1801-November 11, 1869), Senator from Mississippi, Secretary of the Treasury under Polk, governor of the Kansas Territory, was born in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, was admitted to the bar, 1821, and set up his first law practice at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and there was chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee in 1823. In 1826 he moved to Mississippi, and in 1828 was appointed a judge of the state supreme court, but declined the position, preferring to engage in private law practice and speculate in lands. But in 1834 he was elected United States senator from Mississippi and served from March, 1835, to March, 1845, at which time he resigned to become Secretary of the Treasury in President Polk's cabinet, serving in that position from March, 1845, to March, 1849, when he resigned and again took up his law practice. President Pierce appointed him minister to China in 1853, but he declined the position. He accepted the appoint- ment as governor of the Kansas Territory, April 10, 1857, but resigned the position: in December of the same year. He served the United States as financial agent to Europe in 1863-1864, but then returned to his law practice at Washington, and died there. He is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. He married the daughter of Richard Bache of Texas; she was also the granddaughter of A. J. Dallas, and great granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin. There are a great many works that give biographical material concerning Robert J. Walker. The Dictionary of Ame1-ican Biogmphy, XIX, 355--358, gives a considerable list; a very brief sketch is to be found in the Biographical Dfrectory of the Ame1-ican Congress (1928), 1659-1660. 1 From the Emil Hurja Collection, Washington, D. C.
TO TIMOTHY PILSBURY 1
Washington City, Jan'y 19, 1847.
Hon. T. Pilsbury, Sir, Iri reply to your note of yesterday requesting my opinion in regard to the propriety of establishing an indepepdent col- lectoral district at Paso Cavallo, I have to state, briefly, that from the many representations of the convenience and importance of the measure, made to me within the last year by reliable and intelligent persons, I am thoroughly satisfied that common justice to the interests of western Texas requires the prompt and favor- able action of Congress in that behalf. Numerous complaints have come to me of the unnecessary and heavy expense and inconven- ience of requiring, as is now done by the existing laws, all goods
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