The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 48, July 1944 - April, 1945 Page: 8

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

branch of Government, and the personal accomodations of all are very
deficient.
The Head of no Department can now transact with convenience the
functions devolving upon him. The Secretary of the Treasury and all
his Subordinate Officers, are without rooms and without any place to per-
form his highly important business. The discharged soldiers of our
army, are now waiting at great expense for their honest dues at the hands
of that officer. The financial concerns of the Government, will be deranged
and our credit at home and abroad will be depreciated.
I would call your particular and immediate attention to this subject;
and am compelled by my station to suggest that business cannot profitably
proceed, unless Congress will adjourn to some point, where better accomo-
dations and greater conveniences can be speedily obtained or buildings
furnished at this place.
To induce the meeting of Congress at this point, nineteen rooms for
offices had been promised but the pledges remain unredeemed. The pledges]
given are herewith enclosed.
Sam Houston
Store house formerly occupied by Mr. W. C. White with five rooms 5V
House formerly occupied by J[eremiah] C Cole-Rooms 2
Old Alcaldes office with fire place 1V
Mrs. [William H.] Sledge 1 room and stove 1
Saml. [W.] Peebles-2 rooms with stoves 2
House of Mr. [William] Beard's 20 feet square with stove 1
Mr. [L.] Sampson with 2 rooms and 1 fire place 2
[William S.] Hendricks' 2 rooms with 2 fire places 2
Mrs. [Catherine J.] Carson room with stove 1
Col. [Jacob] Eberly's 2 rooms 2V
All the Chairs and Tables necessary for Both Houses of Congress.
Sepr. 16, 1836. W. C. White & Co.
Fitchett & Gill
Jacob Eberly
Geo. Brown
G. & T. H. Borden'o
"Perhaps only those marked (V) had been placed at the
service of the government at this time," wrote Winkler.
It appears that space in the Senate chamber was set aside
for the president's private office and that when the Senate
held secret session, which it frequently did, the president and
his private secretaries were obliged to retire. On October 27,
Senator William H. Wharton had moved to allow them "to
retain possession of their rooms during the secret sessions
of the senate." The motion, however, was lost."
10lbid. Winkler cites MSS. 1 Tex. Cong. 1 Sess. State Department and
MS Messages of 1 Tex. Cong., 1 Sess. State Department; see also Amelia
W. Williams and E. C. Barker (eds.), The Writings of Sam Houston: 1813-
1863, I, 474.
"Winkler cites 1 Tex. Cong., 1 Sess., 33.