'WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
474
I will sacrifice my opinions with the greatest deference to their decision, whatever it may he, that it will redound to the happi- ness and prosperity of Texas. 1 Exccutive Record Book No. 40, 68-71, Archives of the Texas State Library. "Messages of the Presidents," Cong1·essional Papers, ibid. To THE TEXAS CoNGREss 1 Executive Department, Columbia, 7th November, 1836. To the Honorable The Senate and The House of Representative3: Gentlemen: The important trusts committed to our charge as the representatives of a nation and the guardians of her free insti- tutions, demand at our hands, the arduous and incessant toils which responsibility and moral consciousness always impose, when they flow in their natural and appropriate channel. Industry and applications, put in requisition by mature judg- ment, must still be conducted by system, organization and method: for these are necessary, and cannot be attained and exercised without the convenience of houses. The present position of our government is one of greatest in- convenience and absolute embarrassment. We have accommo- dations for no branch of the public trusts. Congress is itself scarcely provided as a body ; with sufficient buildings- no roo~s are set aside for Committees of your honorable body. No office3 for the Chief Departments of the Executive branch of the Govern- ment, and the personal accommodations for all are very deficient. The Head of no Department can now transact with convenience the functions devolving .upon him. '111.e Secretary of the Treasury and all his Subordinate Officers, are without rooms and without any place to perform his highly important business. ·The dis- charged 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 ou·r 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 busi- ness cannot profitably proceed unless Congress will adjourn to some point, where better accommodations and greater con- veniences can be speedily obtained, or suitable buildings procured at this place,- nineteen rooms for offices had been promised, but the pledges remain unredeeded. The pledges given are herein enclosed. Sam Houston [Rubric]
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