The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-21
Your most obedient servant,

.1A0 ~ oe one iof large amount, hope you will
insert TINS letter IN your paper, and much obl;ee
me. ing
Your most obedient servant,
WAsHINGToN, February H. 1853
MY DEAR SIR: As you were kind enough to nre
sent my petition to Congress, asking payment of
the debt due me by the late republic of Texas, /
hope you will take some proper occasion to defend
me against the gross, unjust, and ungenerous i'm
putations cast upon me in public debate, in COM
mon with other creditors, for daring to assert what
We deem clear, legal rights, and which we are
willing to submit to the final adjudication of the
Supreme Court of the United States, or to any
other fair tribunal on earth
To enable you to do SO effectively, ask the pri-
vilege of relating to you the circumstances under
which was induced to invest my whole fortune
the proceeds of my labor for twenty years-in the
public securities of Texas.
When that infant republic was in her utmost
need, Kentuckians furnished a considerable
amount of arms, clothing, and provisions, to her
brave little army; and not battle was fought
from the commencement to the termination of
her glorious struggle, in which Kentucky blood
did not flow freely whole battalion of troops
was raised, armed. and equipped, and furnished
with means to pay their expenses to the scene
of conflict, in my own little city. for which no.
thing was ever charged to Texas. Our private
purses supplied every thing.
In the winter of 1889, in company with two
or three friends, each having large sum of
money. visited that country. On our way from
Galveston to Houston (the then seat of govern
ment) met with General Samuel Houston, late
President of the republic, who was an old ac.
fropo u,bo r
count of the glorious battle of San Jacinto and of
his many trials and difficulties in war and in
peace. Learned from him the probable amount of
the revolutionary debt. / received, also.
glowing description of the climate, SOIL popuIa-
ton, productions, and resources Of the country
General Lamar had just been inaugurated as
President, his Cabinet formed, and Congress was
In session. Among those high in office | found
several old friends, and the most distinguished
and gratifying attentions were bestowed upon me-
as one OF the earliest and frmest friends of Texan
hoerty. did not hesitate, under such circum.
stances and influences. to leave all my money with
an agent. to be invested in the public revolutionary
debt, which was being funded under the act of
the Texan Congress, passed June 7, 1887. and
approved and signed by President Houston, enti-
tied can act to authorize the consolidation and
funding Of the public debt'' Bonds were accord
ingly issued to me for the sum of ffty.nin thou.
sand dollars, with interest from the first of March,
1889, and subsequently for ten thousand dollars,
with interest from the first day of April, 1S4I
redeemable at any time by the government, after
the first of day of September, 1912, leaving two
hundred dollars due me on the treasury books, for
which received no bonds.
Since that period have neither bought nor sold
one dollar OF Texan securities of any kind. | did
v.0f he
cities or villages of Texas at auction, under the
hammer, and have them cried off in quantities to
suit purchasers, where they piled up as large
as cotton bales,' did see or hear of any such
sales on any occasion when | subsequently visited
Texas. paid more in some instances than the
six per cent bonds of Ohio have sold for although
they are now ten or fifteen per cent. above par
more than similar bonds of the great State of Penn
sylvania commanded about the same period at the
Brokers' Board in Philadelphia, and more than
twice as much as the bonds of Indiana and Illinois
were then worth; and yet neither of these States
has attempted to scale, bar by an act of limitation
or repudate her debts.
1t is very true that did not in person 20 to
Texas when clouds enveloped her in darkness,
and peril my life in conhic. or confront and gran.
pie with the enemy although specially invited go
to do by the President of that struggling republic,
and for reasons we'll known to that high function.
airy. Nor can ] conceive what my going tbitber
or staying away has to do with the Justice or
equity of debt due me by solemn contract, and
for the payment of which the public revenues and
the faith and honor of the republic of Texas were
pledged.
But trust may be permitted to say, without
indellcacy, and in justice to the memory of gal.
liant youth long ago consigned to bloody grave,
that armed and equipped my eldest son, then but
seventeen years of age, and that he went to Texas
and voluntarily and cheerfully staked his life in the
conflict With many brave companions he was
lncarceraed in the prisons of Mexico, and without
complaint, endured for Texas the chains and pri-
vations incident to the fortunes of war. For all
this hope may properly add, the republic for
which he suffered never paid either father or son
farthing, nor appropriated to either foot of its
hundred millions of acres of public land This. it
seems to me- was not 'sa speculation" but real
transaction. 1t is only acknowledging debt of
gratitude for me to add, further, that the mother
State of this young soldier (Kentucky) was not
1nsensible to his condition, however Texas might
treat him with neglect. AS soon as his situation
was known at Frankfort the Legislature unaui-
mousy resolved to place at the disposal of the Cen
eral Government the entire military force of the
State, to liberate him from imprisonment and
threatened execution.
Thus, sir, have given you brief and frank
detail of my connection with Texas and her public
debt. and whether what is due me is ever paid or
not, may ask that my personal reputation shall
stand vindicated on the journals of the Senate, in
which body it has been assailed. My integrity
and my honor, at any rate, have right to hold
sacred.
Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
LESLIE COMBS.
Hon. JOSEPH K. UNDERWOOD, Senator from Ken
lucky
GREENoUaH.-The news of the death of Horatio
Greenough at Rome called together meeting of
American artiets and his peraona friends january
18th. The sculptor Crawford, Hon. Lewis Cass,
ir., John M. Chapman, w. A. Story, and others, |