WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1838
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the direction of the President was refused to be passed to the credit of the claimants as these acts were in direct violation of law and usage. No officer has any right to draw any transportation or travel- ling expenses, unless he is acting under orders of his Superior, and much less surely would be the right of an officer to draw money who is acting in direct violation of orders, his duty, and the Law of the land. Unless an officer is obedient to the orders of his superiors, no confidence can be reposed in him, if he does not regard the obliga- tion he owes himself and his country, there is no reason to be- lieve that he will regard any of her interests as sacred. Under the circumstances of this case, the Executive felt that he would be faithless to his duty and the interests of the service as well as false to his oath if he should permit Dr. Forrest to remain longer in the service of the Government, and he was ac- cordingly notified of his dismissal believing it the only remedy that could be prescribed. Sarri Houston [Rubric] [Endorsed] : Message from the President of the Republic in answer to a resolution of the Senate-giving his reason for the dismissal from the service of Dr. Moreau Forrest, May 11th 1838. Read and referred to the Committee to whom was referred the petition of Moreau Forrest.
1 "Messages of the Presidents," Cong1·essional Papers, Texas State Library.
THE VETO OF THE BILL FOR THE FURTHER ISSUE OF PROMISSORY N OTES 1 Houston, May 12, 1838. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: I return to you the " Act to define and limit the issue of Promissory Notes," with the following reasons for disapproving the same: Experience has shown, that with the limited amount of this species of paper heretofore in circulation, it has been impossible to sustain its value, or avoid great depreciation. As a currency, it has no basis to rest upon, but the demand for its use. It is not a representative of money, and does not purport to be so on its face; and yet it was designed in its origin,
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