(TEXAS.) Whiting, Samuel. Letter attempting to broker a deal between two contenders for the Congress of the Republic of Texas. Autograph Letter Signed to Captain William M. Logan. 2 pages on one sheet, 9 3/4 x 7 3/4 inches, plus integral address leaf with no postal markings; separations at some folds, minor dampstaining in margin. Houston, TX, 29 August 1839
This letter describes a political negotiation among three men who were prominent in the Republic of Texas. Samuel Whiting (publisher of the Houston National Intelligencer) was attempting to broker an agreement between Algernon S. Thruston (who served as the republic's attorney general) and William M. Logan (sheriff of Liberty County). In full: "Just on the eve of my departure home I in haste at your request state to you the conversation that took place yesterday between yourself & Col. Thurston in front of the Capitol. You asked Col. T. if he had stated that you were under a pledge to him to take no part in the senatorial election against him, & he distinctly replyed that he had made no such statement. You then asked him to give it in writing which he said he would do on your addressing him a letter, which letter I was the bearer of to him yesterday, and he replyed he would take his time to answer it, on my saying he could have pen ink & paper at my office to do so." Logan died three months later of yellow fever.
