Houston v1

WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1835

307

actually paid shall be refunded, with ten percent thereon, and that the land shall revert to the state, and be at its disposal. The House rec'd the following resolution from General Samt Houston-- adopted the same as far as the words null and void: [ Endorsed] : Resolution of General Sam' Houston 131 Reso- lution making null and void all Grants of land issued by the Con- gress of Coahuila & Texas since 1833. 1 Compfroller's Lette1·s and Papers, Texas State Library. 2 This document is not dated, but the resolution was probably offered and passed about November 11, or 12, 1835, for Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, "Journals of the Consultation," Article XVIII, p. 38, reads thus: "Article XVIII.-All grants, sales, and conveyances of land, illegally and fraudulently made by the Legislature of the State of Coahuila and Texas, located, or to be located within the limits of Texas, are hereby solemnly decared null, void, and of no effect." There is no evidence in the "Journals of the Consultation," to the effect that this Article was adopted according to the resolution offered by Houston, but the inference is fairly plain that it was. This "ordinance establishing a provisional government for Texas" was read before the Consultation, November 13, 1836, and was signed by every member present. Gammel, Laws of Texas, I, 638.

T'o THE GOVERNOR AND GENERAL CoUNCIL 1 Head Quarters, San Felipe de Austin, 20 Nov 1835

To the Hon. the Governor and Genl Council of Texas Gentelmen I have the honor to enclose for your information a report of Ira Westover, adjutant, detailing the circumstances of the reduction of the garrison of Lipantitlan, on the night of the 3rd inst. In transmitting the same I feel much pleasure in the Expression of my approbation in favor of the conduct and bravery of the officers & men who have so handsomely acquitted themselves in the affair and so deservedly won the reputation for themselves and Glory for their Country. SAM HOUSTON Maj Genl & Comd inChief of the Army. 1 Arniy Papers, 1835, Texas State Library, The General Convention and Lette1·s, 1836, Book No. 3, p. 214, ibid.

To WYLY MARTIN 1 San Felipe de Austin, November 24, 1835.

To Captain Wylie Martin 2 •

My dear Sir: In accordance with our last conversation, I take pleasure in explaining my views, if they can, in any possible event, be of service to our countrymen.