4 pages, folio, docketed, some dampstaining, old creases. 

Petition to President Sam Houston requesting that Houston appoint John White Bower as Chief Justice of the county. The citizens of Refugio lost their former Chief Justice, Benj. F. Neal, who "left this country and the Republic...and returned to the United States and your petitioners believe that he has abandoned the Republic..." The petitioners cite the hazardous conditions in Refugio--Santa Anna's troops had captured the town in 1842 and carried captive all except two men--but "your petitioners continue to reside in their county under all the discouraging circumstances arising from the troubled state of the frontier, and shall continue to reside here until withdrawn by your excellency or driven off by the enemy - neither of which events they trust will take place." However, "the county is entirely without officers and no authority exists in any person to issue a writ of election for the various officers which are absolutely necessary to the county."