The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume IV, part 1

Papers of Mirabeau B. Lamar, Volume IV, part 1

·• TEXAS STA:TE LIBRARY

THE PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR

:Eclited from the original papers in the Texas State Library

Charles Adams Gulick, Jr.,

and

Winnie Allen, Acting Archivist, Texas State Library

Volume IV Part I

~ VON BOECKMANN-JONES CO., PRDITFRS AND BOOKBINDERS, AUSTIN, TEXAS. 1!124

FOREWORD

The smallness of the present volume is due to the increased cost of State contract printing, and the consequent impossibility of printing so many pages in this as in former issues. Volume IV, part 2, will be printed when a new appropriation becomes available. Miss Winnie Allen, whose name appears on the title-page, acted as archivist during the fiscal year 1923-24, while Miss Katherine Elliott, the archivist, was on leave of absence working in the Harvard Library and taking graduate courses at Radcliffe College.

Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar

No. 2126 1842 Feb. 23, M. B. LAMAR GALVESTON, [TEXAS j TO ,T. WEBB, AUSTIN, [TEXAS] 01 Galveston 23rd February J8,t2. Honble. James Webb Dear Sir, My attention has just been direr:ted to a communication in the "Weekly Texian" of the 26th Ultimo, signed with the letter A, in which the writer, after much personal abuse, proposes that I should be delivered up to the vengeance of Mexico for the redemption of the unfortunate Sante Fe prisoners; and that I shoqld be detained in this country until the proposition could be made and responded to by that nation. Sir, if I know my own heart, it is true when I say, that I have never seen the hour since my arri_val, in Texas, that I have not been willing to sacrifise my life to the glory and happiness of the people. It was for this, that I came to the country. But when the author of the communication alluded to, rec- ommends that I should not be permitted to leave the Republic, I can assure him that no forcible detention is necessary_. for there is no power in the nation that can drive me from it, until I make him atone to me for the outrage which he has offered, if he be a man of sufficient character to justify my resentment. I am informed QY a gentleman recently from the city of Austin that the atrocious article was penned by one of the memberi;: of the Executive Cabinet, the Honorable Amon Jones, Secretary of State. If this be true, it be- comes doubly important,that the audaciouR offender sh!)uld not be per- mitted to go unpunished. Eminating as it does from one the highest of our public functionaries, and wearing the aspect of, a Government measure, the people ber:omes as deeply interested in the matter as my- self. But however successful the author may be in eluding the resent- ment of the public, I cannot allow him to escape from his responsibility• to me. Every honorable mind that has perused the offensive publica- tion, must feel that the malignant spirit that pervades the peice; its falsehood and abuse; ns well as the diabolical and flagicious character of the proposition which it contains, will not allow me to pass it by in silence; and I have a full assurance in the chivalry of our people and their keen sensibility to, insult, that I shall be abundantly suR- tained by them, in seeking that redress which it is not only my right but my imperious duty to demand. I must therefore request the favor of you to call upon Mr. Anson Jones and ask him in my name whether he is or is not the author of the communication signe!l A, which ap- peared in the "Weekly Texian" of the 26th. Ult. Accept of no equiv- ocation or explination. I only want to know the simple fac~ whether he had any agency or connedion whatever, even in the slightest de-

nA. Df. See also nos. 2127 and 2158.

TEXAS STATE LIBRARY

gree, with said publication; and if he had, as a matter of course, he shall hear from me again.- You can either send him a copy of this letter -or cause it to be read to him in the presence of some third party; and require of him a catagorical reply to my enquiry- Your friend Mirabeau B. Lamar. Had the production eminated from the Editor of the Texian or from any irresponsible scoundrel like him, it might be suffered to pass· un- noticed without any detrimt to my own character or that of the country- but coming as I have every reason to hlieve it does, from one of the highest of our public functionaries & hearing the aspect. of of [sic] a govmt measure, the people at large are as much as [sic] in- terested in the matter as myself, and should be equally prompt in re- pelling the imputation which it casts upon the American character. This may or may not be done; but however successful the author may be in eluding &c- Every mind that is not imensibJe to insult must feel, that the malig- nant spirit which pervades the peice, as well as the flagicios & diaboli- cal proposition which it contains, calls aloud for redress at my hands,-and I am confident that the people of Texas, when they re- flect upon the strange provocations which I have recd. & the evident design of my official calumniator to to [sic] sacrifise my reputation & life to his malignity, will abundantly &c- [ Addressed] Hon. Jas. Webb City of Austin Travis Co- No. 2127 1842 Feb. 27, A. JONES GALVESTON, [TEXAS] TO M. B. ~AMAR, [GALVESTON, TEXASJ 62 Galveston Feb. 27th. 1842 Gen. Mirabeau B. Lamar Sir I have this moment received your note of the 25th. Inst. in relation to the authorship of a certain anonymous article signed A. which appeared in the "Weekly Texian" of the 2nth. Ultimo.- In reply I have the honor to refer you for any or all the information you require on this subject to Gen. Hunt.-

I have the honor to be Your Most Obt Svt Anson Jones [rubric] [Endorsedl

r Addressedl Gen. M. B. Lamar Present

Recd. 6th. March by me at Galveston. J.

Dr. Anson ,Tones-to 2/27-"Lamar-Runt."

"'A. N. S. See also nos. 2126, 2128, and 2158.

PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR

No. 2128 1842 Mar. 3, J. S. :MAYFIELD AUSTIN, [TEXAS] TO M. B. LAMAR, GALVESTON, [TEXAS.) 63 • Austin 3rd. March 1842 Dear Genl. I wrote to you some weeks since f>• but this morning Judge Webb shewed me your lette~G relative to the publication over the sig- nature of "A" in the Texian of the 26th. Ult. · This calls to me recollection the course pursued by Genl. Hunt whilst here; and the probabilaty that he will attempt to draw you into a correspondence with him. I would strongly urge you not to suffer yourself to indulge in any diplomacy with him upon the subject but throw back promptly upon him the fact that he made the propositions stated in the Article signed "Aristades" In relation to the subject of your letter to Judge Webb I will render any service in my power in ferreting out the true author of "A" it is generally believed here to be Ani,on Jones, and if so he should in some way be held responsible. I am writing at Judge Webb's table, who requests me to say that upon consultation with Dr Chalmers & myself, it is determined to call upon the Editor of the Texian immediately upon his return from San Antonio where he is at this time, and will inform you of the result. I shall be at the Island with my family the last of this month Your friend

truly J. S. Mayfield . [rubncl

[Addressed] Genl. Mirabeau B. Lamar Care of A. M. Jackson Galveston City. Courtesy of / Genl. Morehouse/

No. 2129 1842 Mar. 3, J. WEBB AUSTIN, fTEXAS] TOM. B. LAMAR, GALVESTON, fTEXAS]M Austin, 3d March 1842 My dear General- Your letters of the 22d & 23d of February have this moment been handed to me by Mr. McFarlane- I am astonished at your not acknowledging the rect. of any of mine, & at your writin!! as tho' you had reC'd. none from me- I wrote you by Col. Love about the 7th of Fehy. & have written you three letters• 1 •A. L. S.

"No. 2085. '"No. 2126. "A. L. S. "'These letters are not now with the Lamar Papers.

TEXAS STATE LIBRARY

since, all of which except the last, ought to have reach'd you before the date of yours- By the first, I informed _you that we had suc- ceeded in getting a law passed, to pay the residue of your Salary in Exchequer Bills; & also that I had obtained from Whiting a deed to yO'U for the lot in Houston- The deed was sent to Mr. Tankersley, & I have since got his acknowledgement of its reeeipt- I farther informed you that I knew nothing of the note:- which you requested me to send you, & that you did not tell me where they were to be found- In my subsequent letters, I recappitulate<l the same informa- tion- and in my last I informed you that I had taken up your notes which were due in February, having advanced $127.50 to make up the deficiency, without drawing a dollar from ~·our salary- Y,our salary yet remains untouch'd- Whether it would be paid upon your draft or not I cannot say, but think it probable that it would not be untill Col. Daingerfield, the Secy. of the Treasury (who is now absent) re- turns, as I understand that Stickney (who is acting Secy.) says he will pay nothing except what is contained in the general appropriation bill, & as yours was a special appropriation it will probably be refused by him- They refused to pay Bryan for the same reason- When Daiflgerfield returns, I have no doubt it will be paid, as he supported the appropriation very warmly, altho' most of the friends of the Execu- tive opposed it- Now, upon the subject of your wished for fight- I think the whole matter unworthy of notice-- The article n,cd. here, so far as I could learn, universal condemnation, & died, immediately after the burst of indignation subsided- Notwiths'tanding h_owever my opin- ion, that "to pursue such game is hardly worth the candle," I would nevertheless have obeyed your mandate, by calling upon the Gentle- man, & demanding if he were the Author of the offensiYe a.rticla Could he have ben fo1.md, but like the rest of the "Heads" he de- parted from the Seat of Govt. shortly after the adjournment of Con- gress, & I presume is new enjoying the otium cum digintate at Cohim- bia, or may be at Galveston, and if you still persist in carrying your beligerent notions into effect, you must seek him in that lower region-- I would have demanded the Authors name from the Editor, but after consulting with some of your friends, it was deemed best not to do so, as he might have assumed the responsibility himself which would have placed you in an awkward perdicament, [sic] as you could not have noticed him afterwards- We have nothing particularly new, except Indian annoyances, which are not new,· & a report that the Mexicans are coming down upon San Antonio-- A company starts over this evening to render such assistance as they may, should they come-- Very truly & sincerely Your friend, Jame.<: Webb

PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoN.APARTE LAM.AR

P. S. Whiting is not in Town- so soon as I see him, I will enquire about the newspapers- f Addressed] Free James Webb M. C. Ocnl :Mirabeau B. Lamar Care of A. A. M. Jackson Esq. Galveston No. 2130 1842 Apr. 12, S. WHITING AUSTIN, [TEXAS] TO M. B. LAMAR, GALVESTON, [TEXAS] 68 Austin 12. Apr 1842 Dear General By Col Mayfield, I address you a few lines. I have promised myself long since the pleasure of a letter from you, as in our last interview, previous to your leaving this place, you said to me that you would write me, when you had found a resting pince, Col M, will tell you of all our movements here, old Sam BurMt & David, G. Ho'USton have played the Very Devil here, I have been puz- zled to determine which of the two is the d ......st Rascal, It appears to me that poor Texas in the choice of the two worthies with Com crib Moore has closed her doomedest,, -We are holding on \;o the Archive [sic] like death to dead negro & are determined they shall not be taken from here 'till ordered by a higher power that Sam Houston. Judge Webb. Col. Jones & some 8 or 10 others have so- licited me to offer for next Congress from this County. I have con- sented to run & if you can lend me a hand, by writing to your friends here, I will be thankful, Lewis P. Cook will offer [persuade] Ogden but my friends think my chance a good one. My friends are all act'g very quietly as yet, and I presume the fact is not known to Col May- field he being as it is believed a warm friend of Cooks I should be truly pleased to have a letter from you with sentiments of the

Most sincere friendship & esteem-

I Am-Truly Yrs S. Whiting [rubric]

[ Addressed] General M,. B., Lamar- favord. by ) ) Galveston. Col Mayfield )

[Endorsed]

1842 Personal-

T:a::ua STATE LIBRARY

, No. 2131 18~ Apr. 29, M. HUNT GALVESTON, [TEXAS] TO M. B. LAMAR, [GALVESTON, TEXA& J 69 Galveston 29th. April Dear Sir Your name has been given to me by Dr. John G Chalmers as that of the person upon whose authority he furnished certain statements to the writer of an article which appeared in the Austin City Gazette dated 28th. of July last, over the signature of "Aristides" The article alluded to contained several assertions un- founded in fact and reflecting on my character as a gentleman- I have to ask of vou whether or not You furnished the statements to Dr. Chalmers as alleged. Circumstances beyond my controul have prevented my making this demand at an earlier hour

Respectfully

Yr. obt Svt.

Memucan Hunt

Gen. Mirabeau B Lamar [Addressed]

No. I-

Gen. Mirabeau B Lamar-

Politeness of ) ) Mr. Rossignol ) ) & ) ) Kennedy )

Present

No. 2132 184t Apr. 30, M. B. LAMAR GALVESTON, [TEXAS] .TO M. HUNT, [GALVESTON, TEXAS] 70

Galveston 30th April 1842.

Genl. M. Hunt.

Sir. In answer to your note of yesterday, 11 I have to

state, that I have never read the article signed, Aristides,; and am wholly ignorant of its contents; neither have I been able since the reception of your note, to procure a copy of said publication. You must, therefore, furnish me with a distinct and definite statement of your cause of complaint against me, before I can be able to respond to your enquiries. Your note represents me as having said something to Doctor Chalmers, derogatory to your character, but does not state what the offensive matter is; and leaves me without any means to con- jecture its nature. You will therefore, perceive the propriety of let-

•A. N. S. '°A. Df. S. "No. 2131.

PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR

ting me know what it is, that I am represented as having commu- nicated to that gentleman; and whatever it may be, if I ever made such communication to him or to any other individual, I will fully & freely acknowledge it; and should the things to which I have given utterance, be true, I shall be just as ready to eassert [sic] and confirm them; and if unfounded, will take great pleasure in doing you justice. Yours Mirabeau B. Lamar. [Endorsed] No. 2 No. 2133 1842 Apr. SO, M. HUNT GALVESTON, [TEXAS] TO M. B. LAMAR, [GALVESTON, TEXAS]7 2 Galveston 30th. April 1842 Gen Mirabeau B. Lamar Sir I hereby acknowledge the receipt of your note of this morning 78 and hasten to reply to it- As you say you have never seen the article signed "Aristides" I send you the paper 74 containing it, and request to know if any of the statements therein made were upon your authority and if any which Yours. Memucan Hunt [Addressed] [Endorsed] Tu ~3 Gen Mirabeau B Lamar politeness of

) )

Present

Mr. Chas Rossignol )

No. 2134 184f May£, M. B. LAMAR GALVESTON, [TEXAS] TO MEMU- CAN HUNT, [GALVESTON, TEXAS]7 6 Galveston 2nd. May 1842 Genl. M. Hunt Sir-In perusing Aristides, I find but two facts al- luded to with which I recollect to have any connection; and both these, are founded in truth. I remember very well having mentioned to Doctor Chalmers, that you had applied, to be sent jointly with another gentleman, now deceased, to represent this Government at the Court of France; and that you had at another time, also applied to have Mr. Bryant removed as Consul at New Orleans, and yourself appointed in his place with the title of Consul General of Texas. These things were not communicated to the Doctor with any view of publication, but were merely mentioned in an incidental conversation with that gentleman whilst he was a member of my Cabinet. Aristides probably

"A~ N. S. See also no. 213). 11 No. 2132. "In Texas Archives, State Library. 71 A. Df. s.

TEXAS 8TATE LIBRARY

derived his knowledge from the Doctor, but not from me; and for the reflections and comments which that writer has thought proper to make upon the facts, he alone is responsible. I hold myself responsible only for the truth of the facts, as I stated them to Doctor Chalmers. Your application, in both cases was unsuccessful. In denying your requests, however, I was influenced by no personal unkindness to you, as my subsequent conduct to you has clearly evinced; but I was governed entirely by a sense of my obligations to the country. In the first application, I did not consider you at all qualified for the high & re- sponsible station which you sought; and besides, I had no disposition to recall Genl. Henderson; I could not perceive in what manner the country was to be benefited by the change. In the second instance, I could not remove Mr. Bryan with any propriety whatever, because I had no complaints against him, and you declined prefering any. Besides, had I actually removed him, I could not have gratified you with the title of Consul General, because no such office is known to our Constitution. That you did apply for both these situations, I pre- sume you will be ready to admit, yourself; should you, however, think proper to deny having done so, I stand prepared to prove the facts. Yours Mirabeau B. Lamar. [Addressed] Genl. Mimecan Hunt present. No. 2135 1842 May 3, M. HUNT GALVESTON, [TEXAS] TO M. B. LAMAR, [GALVESTON, TEXAS] 76 Galveston 3d. May 1842 Gen MB Lamar Sir I received to-day your note 77 of yesterday. You state that there are but two facts in "Aristides" with which you are connected. The one an application on my part to be sent in co11- nection with another gentleman now deceased as minister to France-- And the other to be appointed Consul General of Texas at New Orleans. I have !J.lways avoided heretofore and now dislike exceedingly to place my private interchanges with any man where they may find their way to the public, but your apparent wilful misrepresentation of me in relation to the consulship; and the application of Col White deceased of Florida. for a. mission to the Court of St. Cloud forces me in vindi- cation to my self to give a representation of the particular facts and circumstances in both matters. In respect to the Consulship I will state in substance to the best of my memory that about the 1st. of april 1840 I mentioned to you I was at last an applicant for an office and that in asking the office I sought I was asking to disconnect myself as much as possible wit.h the politics of the country, that I had twice taken office under you against

"A. N. S. "No. 2134.

PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPAR'l'E LAMAR

my wishes, in both Instances, that the neglect of my private affairs consequent upon my devotion to the public service since- had de- stroyed my estate and that I had determined to devote my most active efforts until I could redeem or partially redeem my losses to commer- cial operations. That if you would confer upon me the consulship at New Orleans I would accept it and if you had no objection Mr. Wood- ward having resigned the office of consul general I should be obliged to you to make me his successor and establish that office at New Orleans you stated that you were willing to any thing for me in your power but that Mr. Bryant would lose his place- I replied Yes-'-. but that Mr. Bryant I believed was a foreigner and was less entitled to such an office than a citizen of the country. You stated that you cared nothing for Bryant and would do any thing in your power for me that I could request I thanked you and mentioned that I should like to get permission to proceed from the boundary line upon which I was then engaged as commissioner of this government to New Orleans and with your permission I would transmit thro' the clerk or some other officer of the commission the Maps journal etc- which might be agreed upon by the U. S Commissioner and myself on the completion of the boundary that without such permission (having been instructed by the Sety of State to make the report in person I should be compelled to make it myself I understood you to acquiesce in the agreement and on the next day I mentioned to my friend & relation Mr Bullock you having consented to give me the appointment' I likewise mentioned to Dr Anson Jones then a senator that my name, would be before the senate for consul or consul general at the next meeting of Congress that it was a station inferior to those I had heretofore filled but tha:t my private interests save only in engaging in active military operations against the enemy and I wished to be as little connected with the politics of the county as possible, that I greatly prefered private life to civic office as my resignations of high offices in the country would evince-during the same evening I applied for the office of consul which was done to ease off my connection with political life, and im- mediately after the foregoing conversation you mentioned to me .your intention to march a force to be commanded by Col Rames to occupy a position near or upon the banks of the Rio Grande,- I stated to you that if you intended offensive operations against the enemy I should volunteer & claim to be received as an officer or private, you replied that you should be governed in your selections in conferring the pri11:- ciple offices which you might bestow by the manner in which gentle- men stood up to you The conversation in a short time after this turned on the then approaching presidential election and you stated that it was understood that those who stood up to you well would support Mr Burnet for the presidency I could but feel astonished at this declara- tion and replied .that you might consider me "Standing" as .you pleased but that I would not support Mr. Burnet. for-the Presidency and men- tioned to you the cause of personal difference with him which was that he had spoken unkindly of my friend Gen Henderson whilst absent on his mission to Europe and that moreover I thought there were several other gentlemen in the nation better qualified in the present crisis of our affairs for chief magistrate. You stated that you did not intend to interfere with the presidential election-· I replied that you would justly affect your fame & reputation if you did I thought I was mis-

TEXAS STATE LIBRARY

taken after your disclaimer 1n the deduction that I was forced to come to that gentlemen who received military offices from you would have to "stand up to you" and that "In standing up to you well it was understood they would support Mr. Burnet for the presidency" in a day or two after this conversation we met in Judge Lipscombs room and you remarked in General conversation That gentlemen frequently inferred that you intended to confer office upon them when it was not your intention-That you had frequently said that you would do what you could for them &c. and instanced Col Burton's misapprehensions .of your intentions towards him, and added that if a gentleman would make an application direct he would always get a direct answer,- Whilst at judge Lipscomb's room it did not suggest itself that you were alluding to me but on remembering your declaration that gentle- men must "stand up" to you, who got office and that "In standing up" to you it was understood that they would support Mr. Burnet for the presidency and my having declared to you that I would not support Mr Burnets claims might have changed, what I considered to have been your assent for me to go to New Orleans as consul and I deter- mined to remove my doubts as early as possible on the subject and accordingly at the first convenience moment stated to you that if I was to have the appointment of Consul General at New Orleans l should be glad to have my exequature to reach N. 0. as early as pos- sible after I completed the boundary line you mentioned Mr. Bryant would lose his place if you gave it to me I said yes that we had spoken of that before and that you said you cared nothing for Bryant but that I did not wish to embarrass you You stated that you would think of it. And I said to you that I "put the question direct" Your response was that you did not think you could- I now became sat- isfied that you were using the patronage of the Government to promote Mr. Burnets election to the presidency, and proceeded to my lodgings immediately after and addressed you a note to the following effect in substance Sir. Having expressed your doubts in relation to your disposition to confer upon me the office of Consul General- It being the first office I have ever applied for unless having been requested to do so by those who. had the power to confer it (alluding to the military appointment -conferred upon me) and not being inclined to embarrass your excel- lency in the administration of the Government beg leave to relieve you from any further consideration of my application I have the honor etc- Gen Green waited on me soon after I sent you this note and stated that you were very much concerned at it and requested that you thought I had been less courteous than I might have been- I said to Gen Green that if I could be convinced that there was an offensive word in the note I would alter it with great pleasure provided it did not change the substance. I desired him to point out wherein it was ob- jectionable- He said it commenced with the formal word "Sir'' Gen Green then said that he very much regretted that any thing should occur to break up the kind relations which had existed between you and myself and mentioned to me that he had heard you say that you had rather promote me to any offif'e .in your gift than any other man

PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR

i.n Texas, That he understood charges would be preferred against Mr Bryant as consul, in a few days, and if I would remain in the city three days, he had no doubt that I could get the consul ship at New Orleans- I replied to Gen Green by saying that you could not give me the consulship or any other office in the Texian nation that I be- lieved you had attempted to use the patronage sacredly given to you by the constitution for the public welfare to controul and buy my support of Mr Burnet for the next presidency. The insult and indignity was so great that a reconciliation on my part was impossible. My friend Dr. Archer afterwards spoke to me. I stated to the Dr that he was at liberty to say any' thing to me that a brother might but that to reconcile my feelings to you after the insult and indignity which I considered you to have offered me would be to sacrifice my feelings and character as an officer and gentleman, he stated that he would not add another word This sir is the substance to the best of my memory of what occurred in relation to the Consulship- I mentioned to you sir in the winter of 38-39 whilst secty of the Navy of the Republic, You President, that Col Jos. White of Florida having heard me say at New Orleans in January that my friend Gen Hender- son had written to me expressing his determination to return to Texas in a short time whether he succeeded in procuring our recognition or not by any of the powers of Europe was desirous to become connected with our diplomatic affairs abroad and requested me to allow my name together with his to be offered to you as the representatives of this Government to France & England, That I had positively declined an application for such a mission on my own account, but that Col White for various reasons mentioned by him was very solicitous that I should become associated with him in an application and after my refusal on that occasion requested me to think on the subject and hoped I would change my determination when he again met me. That he would cer- tainly visit Texas very soon and he had greatly at heart a mission from Texas to France. Indeed among other gentlemen I had invited him in a note to visit this country and the main reason mentioned in the note of invitation was his kind offices to Gen Henderson whilst de- tained at Bologne on his way from London to Paris for want of pass- ports, I stated to you that I should be gratified to see you associate him with my friend Gen. H. from whom I had subsequently to my having seen Col White at New Orleans received letters saying that he would remain in France, until after Mr Saligny the examining agent of that government in this country made his report. I understood you to be disposed to see Col White associated with Gen Henderson up to the period of my informing you that Mr. Saligny stated that Col. Whites' appointment would if not defeat injure our prospects for recognition and if i recollect correctly you stated that that being the case he could not be gratified. Mr. Saligny now in this city repeatedly asked me to apply for the mission to France When. Gen H. returned- I always declined and informed him that if it was offered to me I could not accept it that my private affairs were in such a situation -that it was ruinous to me to hold office so I said to all those with whom I conversed relative to office and how it is that your mind has brought you to believe such a declaration is impossible for to Imagine. If you conceive that Col. White's having desired me to apply with him jointly for a mission and my having informed you of Col Whites'

TEXAS STATE LIBRARY

having done so but at the same time assuring you that I could not accept such an office constitutes an application from me then I grant you I made an application but in M other manner whatever- I connected myself with your cabinet as you know greatly against my will after having declined to do so more than once and in associating myself with your administration of the Government stipulated that I was only to remain in office a few months and that Gen H was to be minister abroad during your administration. of the Government if he so desired- I recollect mentioning to judge Jones of the Supreme Court who was at your house on the day I consented to go into your Cabinet that I had made it a sine quo non that Gen H. was to hold the place he occupied- I was informed by Col Love of this city about the time I resigned the office of secty of the navy that he was credibly informed that you contemplated recalling Gen Henderson I stated to him it could not be unless Gen H. had requested it that I had made it a condition on associating myself with your administration that Gen H should remain where he was if he desired to do so I called on you and stated what I had heard from Col. L & you denied any such intention I am aware that you had offered the appointment of secty of War to Gen H. immediately after his return from Europe and of his declining to accept it and your having requested him to accept the appointment of secty of state through two senators Viz Messrs Burton & Everett who it was understood particularly represented your views and wishes in the senate- It was stated to Gen H. when he mentioned that he understood You had already named Judge Lipscomb to the Senate for that place that that circumstance should be no impediment to his re- ceiving the office If he would accept it- Is it that your hate for that elevated and good man occasioned by this circumstance caused you to wish to break up the warm attachment which you knew we bore recip- rocally for each other that you attempted to create the breach between us that an assertion of my sanction of his recall as minister would naturally and justly produce- or was it because you could not use me about the 1st. of april 1840 to consent to advocate Burnets election to the presidency, and that I had spurned aily further intercourse with you declarinl? that you had attemnted to use the patronage of the Gov. to controul my vote and influence at the election of President. I never heard of my having applied for the office of minister to France until I said "Aristides" and I know I never made such an application and your note forces me to say that such an imputation is so unjus- tifiable and wanton that the declaration on your part that I solicited the appointment of Minister to France must be a dream- That I solicited to associate Col. W. with Gen H. or to ajd him in any man- ner in my power to become connected with our foreign affairs is true- Which I believe would have been done but for Mr. Saligny's inter- position-did this manifest a disposition to see Gen H. recalled under any Circumstances unless it was his expressed wish- I feel compli- mented at your gratuitous declaration that you con.sidered me un- q'IJ,(J,lified for the office for which I never applied and will remind you, that I had filled for more than a year a station more distinguished that the one alluded to- and on resigning the office of Secty of the Navy you wrote me a note saying that when my private affairs would

PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR

enable me to again take office that you would confer upon me as dis- tinguished a place as one of those I had heretofore occupied- . . _. _ In conclusion I have only to add that if you mean. to say iri the note I received from you to day that I ever in the most remote manner in- timated or acquiesced in a disposition to recall Gen Henderson you misrepresent me- and if you are unwilling to allow to an acquiescence in this declaration, and I call upon God to witness its truth to the best of my knowledge & belief I shall be compelled reluctantly to ask of you that redress which malicious and wanton misrepresentations of a gentleman entitle him to demand-

Yours=

Memucan Jlunt

[Addressed] to,

[Endorsed] No 5

Gen Mirabeau B Lamar

politeness of

)

Present

Chas. Rossignol. )

No. 213-6

1842 May 3, J. MILTON VELASCO [TEXAS.] TOM. B. LAMAR, [GALVESTON, [TEXAS.]7 8 Genl Mirabeau Lamar, Dr_. Sir, Your letter by Moss Hard has been received. Agreeably to your wishes, Col Brown and myself, will be in Galveston tomorrow. In the morning if we can get aboard the Lafitte (we prefer the boat; Brown is unwell)-if the boat is not liere by night we shall leave after supper on horse-back- & arrive tomorrow Evening or earlier- The gun & pistols we have with us.- If no definitive arrangements are already made, I hope you will not regard it as presumptuous in me, to request a postponement of affairs until we shall arrive. When I shall see you I will give the reasons of the requ~st. Velasco May 3rd. 1842. Your friend

Jno. Milton [Rubric]

[Addressed]

Genl. Mirabeau B Lamar. Galveston City.

Courtesy

)

Tex-

)

) Moss Hard)

"A. L. S. See also nos. 2131, 2132, 2133, 2134, 2135, 2137, 2138, 2139, 2140, 2142, 2143, 2144, and 2145.

TEXAS STATE LIBRARY

No. 2137 18~ May S, A. S. LIPSCOMB GALVESTON, [TEXAS] TO M. B. LAMAR, [GALVESTON, TEXAS] 79 _ Galvest.on City 3rd. May 1842 Sir agreeably to your request mape t.o me this morning. I will state that I recollect, that a note was handed to you by Col McLeod from General Hunt. and that it was read, in the presence of the Secretarys of War and Navy, myself, and I believe some others. I cannot pre- tend to remember, the })articulars of the note, I can only say that it left an impression on my mind, that General Hunt was under the in- fluence of passion. when he wrote. . it, as it was oouched, in rather angry terms. Its objeet was mainly to withdraw. an application made to you for an appointment, by the General. you seemed, t.o be much displeased at the note & some one present I do not recollect now who it was advised. you. to remove General Hunt. from the office of Comm.iE- sion for using the boundary line. You objected to it, and I sustained you in your decission, that a mere personal difference on a subject not connected with the boundary line, was not a sufficient reason for his removal

I am Sir

with Great Respect Your Obdt Servt

Abner S Lipscomb

Gen. M B Lamar

No. 2138 184,S Mmy 4, [MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR,] GALVES- TON, [TEXAS] TO [MEMUCAN] HUNT, [GALVESTON, TEXAS] 80

Galvezton 4 May 1842.

Genl. Hunt

Sir

Your long and elaborate letter 81 of the 3rd inst has been received. You have thought proper to introduce in the discussion of a very plain and simple point, a great deal of irrevalent matter & much personal abuse, which I shall suffer to pass unnoticed as the emina• tions of a viceated feeling and a weak & vulgar mind. Confident that your letter will receive but little or no credence from the public, I shall give no answer to any portion of it except such as relates directly to the question in dispute between us. In my last note I stated that you had applied to be appointed Consul Genl. to the exclusion of Mr. Bryan at New Orleans. This you denounee in the first page of your letter as "wilful misrepresentation;" and in the second page you acknowl- edge in the following language that you did make such application. '"A. N. S. '°A. Df. "No.. 2135.

PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR

You said. "That if I would confer upon you the consulship at N. 0. you would accept it; & if I had no objection M,r. Woodward hav- ing resigned the office of Consul Genl. you should be obliged to me to mak you his successor & establish that office in N. 0." Here sir is a plain admission of all that I ever accused you of in relation to the con- sulate at N. 0. I simply stated that you had a.pplied for that office; you replied in one part of your letter that it was a "wilful misrepre- sentation" & in the next page admitted the fact in the above language & in terms equally strong in other parts. I lea:ve it with you to recon- cile this contradiction in the best way you can. Although you thus admit that you did endeavor to supplant Mr. Bryan, you still persist in denying that you ever sought the appmt of Minister to France; and this now constitutes the only point of differ- ence betwen us. In my note just referred to, I stated distinctly that if you denied this fact, I had testimony to fix it upon you. You have declined calling on me for that testimony, and have contented your- self with a labored agreement to prove your innocence, studiously avoid- ing any allusion to my promised evidenef:l. Why is this? Why do you shrink from this evidence? Is it because vou are anxious to settle the question before you shall be abashed and·overwhelmed by itti appear, ance? I again reiterate that I have uttered nothing concerning you which I am not fully able to substantiate by the most unquestionable proof. A gentleman is expE>cted here in the next steam packet from N. 0. who was a member of my Cabinet at the time alluded to, and who has a clear recollection of every thing connected with the poi~t in dispute between us. If he does not bear me out in my assertions l shall be ready to acknowledge my error & do you ample justice.-

No. 2139 C. ROSSIGNOL GALVES'l'ON, TEXAS TO LAMAR, [GALVESTON, TEXAS) 82 Galveston 5th. May 1842

M. B.

1842 May 5,

Dear sir

I called at your room at 10. o'clock this morning for the purpose of handing you a note 88 from Gen Hunt- but you were ab- sent- I have subsequently called more than once but you had not yet returned- I will avail myself of the :fin•t opportunity to hand it you the note above mentioned .

Very Respectfully Yr obt svt

Chas : Ros@ignol [rubric]

Gen

Mirabeau

B Lamar

[ Addressed]

Gen Mirabeau B Lamar Present

82 A. N. S. 83 No. 2140.

· TE.XAS STATE LIBRs\RY

No. 2140 1842 May 8, M. HUNT GALVESTON, [TEXAS] TOM. B. LAMAR, [GALVE8TON, TEXAS]"• Galveston 8th. May 1842 Gen. Memucan Hunt presents his compliments to Gen. Mirabeau B Lamar, and will be happy to meet him at such time, and place, nnd armed with such weapons, as their friends may avee upon; to settle by single combat the quarrel existing betwen them- Mr. Charles Rossignol who will hand this defiance to Gen. Lamar, is authorized by me to arrange the preliminaries on my part. Yours 'Gen. Mirabeau B Lamar M('mucan Hunt 1 Addressed] to Gen. Mirabeau B Lamar No. 2141 1842 May 8, [M. B. LAMAR] GALVESTON, TEXAS TOM. HUNT, rGALVESTON, TEXAS ]~~ Galveston 8th. May 1842. Genl. M. Hunt. . Sir Genl Hunt's note of this date 8 " has been recd. and Genl. Lamar in presenting his compliments, begs leave to say in answer, that being entirely unconcious of having ever offered any wrongs to Genl Hunt in the premises involved, denies all right on the part of the Genl to demand satisfaction for injuries which Gen] Lamar has never f!Ought to inflict. Nevertheless Genl. Lamar will not permit this to ·-operate as a barier to the desired meeting-. However unjust he esteems .the quarrel which Genl. Hunt has sought to fix upon him, he .cannot :allow the call which is Jll8.0e upon his chivalry to go unresponded ~o. •Genl Hunt's challenge of this date is therefore accepted; & the terms of the meeting will be prescribed by his friend Col. Reuben Brown who is hereby duly authorised to make them known- No. 2142 .[184.e May 8], A. s. JOHNSTON AND OTHERS. [GALVESTON] 81 We understand from common rumor that a difficulty exists betw.?en Genis. Lamar and Hunt which it is supposed will only be terminated by a hostile meeting. · The undersigned as mutual friends of the parties, claim the right to have the matter at i11sue submitted for adjustment (if possible). We remark that in times like the present, that two gentlemen whose Services· are required for their country should not permit per

.. N. S. •A. Df. •No. 2140. 97 Copy.

PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR 17 sonal difference between themselves to interfere with the public good, or by example to establish a precedent which may encourage personal meetings pregudicial to the Country A Sidney Johnston Thos. F. McKenney G W Terrell W G. Hill. Jas. Love No. 2143 [1842 May 9], J. S. MAYFIELD & C. ROSSIGNOL [GALVESTON, Tm~:AS ] 88 • Whereas on yesterday having been furnished with a communica- tion89 over the signature of A Sidney .Johnston 'fhos. F McKinney, G. W. Terrell, Wm. G Hill, and Jas. Love, stating they had under- stood from common rumor, that a difficulty exists between Genls. Lamar & Hunt which it is supposed will only be terminated by a hostile meet- ing and claiming the right as mutual friends of the parties to have the matter at issue submitted for adjustment "If possible" and assign- ing as a reason therefor the public good and the bad effects and preju- dice the county might suffer at this crisis from an example which might tend rather to encourage than discountenance personal colli- sions and quarrels- Therefore yielding to those sentiments, our hearty sanction and being desirous to promote in every legitimate and honourable manner an adjustment of the difficulty alluded to if feasable and knowing such to be the sentiments of the parties- Agree to the following- Mr. Chas: Rossignol as the friend of Gen Hunt agrees to withdraw Gen Hunt's note of defiance & challenge of yesterday's date- and J S. Mayfield as the friend of Gen Lamar agrees to with- draw Gen Lamar's acceptance thereof of the same date- It is also further agreed that the gentleman named shall then be furnished with a copy of the correspondence that has passed between Genis. Hunt and Lamar and determine if the matters at issue are susceptible of fair and honourable adjustment or if not admissible of adjustment without a hostile meeting whether the public good demands a postponement of the same

J. S. Mayfield Chas : Rossignol [rubric]

[Endorsed) Dr. Thos. A. Stanwood Liberty Co.

No. 2144 1842 May 9, A. S. JOHNSTON AND OTHERS, [GALVESTON) 90 We the undersigned having had under consideration the matters in controversy, between Genis. Hunt and Lamar, after examining the cor-

18 D. S. '"No. 2142. 00 D. S.

TEXAS STATE LIBRARY

respondence 91 between those gentle men have come to the conclusion, that there existed no original cause of controversy and less of a hostile meeting. The matter of controversy between those gentlemen, taking the statement of each, has grown out of a misconception of facts, which would be very natural under the circumstances. We therefore recom- mend that the entire correspondence be withdrawn, And that they occupy the position they did, previous to the commencement of the correspondence We believe they can do so without prejudice to their reputation as brave and honorable men-

A. Sidney Johnston Thomas. F. McKinney [rubric] G. W. Terrell Wm G. Hill [rubric] J as. Love [rubric]

May 9th. 1842 [Addressed] Col. J S Mayfield Present

No. 2145 1842 May 9, J. S. MAYFIELD & C. ROSSIGNOL TO M.-B. LAMAR 92 AND MEMUCAN HUNT, [GALVESTON, TEXAS] Galveston 9th. May 1842 Gentm. We herewith have the pleasure of handing you the award 98 of the mutual friends, and Gentlemen to whom we submitted for ad- justment the difficulties existing between you relative to certain state- ments contained in a publication over the signature of "Aristades" in the "Austin City Gazette" of the 28th. of July last. The award is one in our judgement just and honourable to both parties; and as such has been acceded to respectivily by us acting in your behalf Signed iin duplicate to Genis. Mirabeau B Lamar & Memucan Hunt. Your obt Servts J. S. Mayfield Chas: Rossignol [rubric] No. 2146 1842 July 16, THO[MAlS C. DAVIS, AND OTHERS, PHI GAMMA HALL, EMORY COLLEGE [COVINGTON, GEORGIA 1 TO MIBABEAU B[UONAPARTE] LAMAR, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA Announcing his election to honorary membership in the Phi Gamma Society. L. S. 1 p. "'Nos. 2131, 2132, 2133, 2134, 2135, 2137, 2138, 2139, 2140, 2141, 2142, 2143, and 2145. 02 N. S. "No. 2144.

PAPERS OF MrnAREAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR

No. 2147 [1842? before Nov. 30, REUBEN M. POTTER, SAN ANTONIO? TEXAS]H "The Texian Hunter"; a song. A. Df. 1 p. No. 2148 1842 Dec. 1, M[IRABEAU] B[UONAPARTE] LAMAR, MACON, GEORGIA, TO [THOMAS C. DAVIS AND OTHERS, COVINGTON, GEORGIA] Accepting honorary membership in the Phi Gamma Society; answer- ing their letterH of July [ 16.] Copy? 1 p.

No. 2149

[1842?], ANONYMOUS. "Brief View of the Bill abolishing the seventh judicial district, dis- franchising its judge, and transfer[r]ing the judge of the fourth to a distant section of the Republic." Copy? 9 p. No. 2150 1843 Jan. 24, SAM HOUSTON, WASHINGTON, [TEXAS] TO [WILLIAM] BRYAN, NEW ORLEANS, [LOUISIANA] Order for dry goods, furniture, groceries, carriage, and wagon. Fac- simile of A. L. S. 4 p. Including appended list and note of T. J. Green; list dated Jan. 26, 1843; Green's note, October, 1855. No. 2151 1843 May 4, JAMES WEBB AUSTIN, [TEXAS] TO M. B. LAMAR, GALVESTON, [TEXAS] 96 Austin, 4. May 1843- My dear General, I have this moment learned that you are at the Island, & as Dr. Marsden sets out for Galveston in five minutes, I have only time to drop you a very hasty line. I should have written to you when you were last in the Country, but could not ascertain your whereabouts untill I recd. your letter informing me that you were then on the eve of returning to the U. States. Besides, I was daily ex- pecting to see you here, & was much disappointed when I found you were not comin~ up. Upon the main subject of your letter, I have but one answer

"Printed in Telegraph and Texas Register, Nov. 30, 1842, and in Bolton and Barker, With the Makers of Texas, p. 176.

"No. 2146. "A. L. S.

TEXAS S_TATE LIBRARY

to give; & that is, I have no idea of runing for the Presidency- I have various reasons for this determination, which I have not time to give you now, but when we meet we will talk them over, & I hope that will be before long. I have heard that Rusk is to be the Admin- istration Candidate ! I have long thought he intended to run, but I had no idea untill lately, that he would identify himself with Houston, & I still hope it is not so; but his sudden determination not to carry out the Western frontier protection bill, after he had said so much upon the subject, looks, to say the least of it, suspicious- Should he run as the Administration Candidate, I fear there would be no possi- bility of preventing his election, as he is personally very popular, & if to that popularity, is added the influence which Houston yet weilds, there would be no resisting it- He would then in all probability come in pledged to carry out the wretched policy of the present Execu- tive, & if so, farewell to Texas. There is another reason why a coalition of this sort may have been formed- Houston is tottering on his throne, but if he can by any means, bring to his aid the popularity & influence of Rusk, he is safe. He may go on for the residue of his term, as he has done thus far, & set the Constitution, laws, & every thing else at defiance, & laugh at those, who oppose his high-handed lawlessness.- Poor Austin has sadly changed since you saw it, as indeed, has all the Western part of the Country- We have now but a small population,-no business,- & are living under great privations- We have however, held on to the "Archives," & will battle for them to the death; but I fear all our exertions will eventually prove unavailing especially if Genl. Rusk has coalesced with Houston. I suppose you have seen the exertions we are making in our little paper, the "Western Advocate"- It gives them some annoyance at least, if it has no other effect- I would like for you to procure a file of it, which I presume you can do in Galveston, & look over all the political articles- I think some of them will meet your approbation- The paper is very popular in the West, but.I expect is but little read in the East, where it is most needed- We circulate however 500 extra copies throughout the Eastern & Northern Counties- that is, if the post masters on the way permit them to go- The "Times" not long since suggested the idea of a Western Convention, & we have taken it up, & have got the ball in motion. Posibly it may take, & if it do, some benefit may be derived from it- . If you do not come up shortly, let me hear from you- WTite fully- I shall be in Washington at the Supreme Court the first of June, & if I should not see you before, ·cannot you meet me there? Your friend truly & sincerely .James Webb f Addressed] Genl. Mirabeau B. Lamar attention of ) Galveston ) Dr. •l f arsden )

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