WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 184,2
423
TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1 Executive Department, City of Austin, January 6th, 1842. To the Honorable, the House of Representatives: Sirs: I herewith transmit a communication from the Depart- ment of War, with accompanying documents, to which the atten- tion of your Honorable Body is respectfully invited. The observations of the Secretary of War embrace recommendations of deep importance to the country. The object is to avoid in- creased confusion in the transaction of the public business, and to prevent the great losses now likely to ensue. I am convinced that the law "to encourage frontier protection," has signally failed to achieve the object of the enactment. It seems to have been inefficient and is certainly enormously ex- pensive. No reports are made to the War Department of the operations of the companies acting under its provisions; conse- quently but little information can be obtained of the state of the frontiers, or the services rendered the country. In this way, too, frauds are liable to be practised upon the Treasury. Sam Houston. 1 Executive Record Book, No. 40, p. 17, Texas State Library. TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1 Executive Department, City of Austin, January 7th, 1842. To the Honorable, the House of Representatives: In com- pliance with a resolution of the 1st instant, the Executive herewith transmits to your Honorable Body, a copy of the cor- respondence on file in the Naval Bureau, between the late Head of the Navy Department 2 and A. C. Hinton, 3 Esquire, late Com- mander of the Steamship Zavala. No authority exists for the employment of clerks for the per- formance of extra labor; and hence the delay which has ensued in preparing the accompanying information. Whilst the clerk of the Naval Bureau was engaged in making out the transcript, a clerk of another Department was detailed to perform the regu- lar duties of that Bureau. Sam Houston. 1 Executfoe Rec.ord Book, No. 40, p. 17, Texas State Library. 2 Lamar nominated Louis P. Cook for Secretary of the Navy, May 2, 1839, the nomination was confirmed, January 2, 1840.
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