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    [Republic of Texas]. John White Autograph Letter Signed....

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    Miscellaneous:Ephemera, [Republic of Texas]. John White Autograph Letter Signed....
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    Description

    [Republic of Texas]. John White Autograph Letter Signed. Four pages, 7.5" x 12.5", Cincinnati, December 7, 1841, to Archibald Wynns, a member of the Texas House of Representatives, regarding immigration to Texas and the continued collection of taxes. Earlier that year, Congress had discussed a law in which 8,000 families would settle in Texas and be exempt from taxation for a period of twenty years. The bill passed the House, but failed in the Senate. He writes, in part:

    "The times in the United States are frightfully hard and growing worse every day. Exchange between the best bank in this city and New York may be let down at 12 ½ percent. Banks are failing all over the country - less and less public confidence in them every day...Depend on it, times must be very hard in Texas for some time to come. Our Congress must see the necessity of perpetuating our tax laws. Laxity and the extension of time in the collection of taxes, indeed a stop law for the collection of foreign debts, if we would not see the tide of immigration to our country turned back. If you would reward enterprise and investment, if you would protect our inhabitants and turn our savage forests into fertile fields...we must legislate some for ourselves...You will find that you have to collect the revenue from duties in gold and silver & its agriculture. Taxes, land dues and all else (to persevere and it will strengthen the faith and confidence abroad and in the integrity of the gov't) in the issue of the gov't. Without much reflection it now strikes me that were I Gen'l Houston I should dictate to Congress & the world that I never contemplated the issue of the millions and millions and that I would recommend the passage of an act for funding any issue at 20 or 25 cents on the dollar and another that they may be received in payment for the Cherokee Land say at the rate of 10 or 12 dollars per acre not less...Declare to the world that the embarrassments of our small population require this course or that posterity must share with us in good faith in these burdens."

    During the days of the Republic, population increased by 7,000 people yearly due to immigration (including Mexicans). Texas was active in promoting immigration to boost the defense of the frontier and encourage economic growth in the country. The letter is extremely fragile and is weakened along the folds, but the text remains bright and wholly legible. Very good.

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    Auction Dates
    March, 2012
    3rd Saturday
    Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
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