WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1837
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in order to enable the Texans to give their foes a genteel reception. See The Jom"11al of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Texas, 2d Cong., 2d Sess., p. 289.
THE VETO OF AN ACT TO ORGANIZE THE MILITIA 1
Executive Department, Republic of Texas City of Houston, Dec. 18, 1837. To the Honorable the Speaker and Members of the House of Rep1·esentatives, GENTLEMEN: It is with great reluctance that I am con- strained to exercise the constitutional privilege of returning the act entitled "an act to organize the Militia of the Republic;" but the following reasons induce me to the step. I do conceive that the Adjutant-General of the Republic is a member of the staff of the President, and is so esteemed by all free governments; so far as the last law went, in relation to the appointment and duties of the Adjutant-General, there is no reasonable objection. The modifications by the supplement have certainly given him no additional efficiency, but they are cal- culated to produce conflicts and destroy harmony. All orders to an army should pass from the President through the Adjutant- General. The proper organization of the Militia would have been con- summated under the last law, had Congress made any appro- priation adequate to the completion of its organization. Not one dollar was placed at the disposal of the Executive. An Adjutant-General was appointed who would have effected every thing desired, but he had neither means of transportation nor subsistence, while in the exercise of his various duties. The Ex- ecutive does not object to the organization proposed in the sup- plemental bill so far as it embraces the election of a Major and Brigadier-General, nor does he hesitate in accordance with the most anxious solicitude expressed by the Congress for the organ- ization of the Militia, but previous to his approving the supple- ment he cannot assent to any views that will exclude the nom- ination of the Adjutant-General by the Executive, and ratification by the Senate, and the appropriation of such an amount of money as will ensure an object so desirable, as giving the great- est efficiency to the Militia of the country.
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