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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1842
433
The impeachment articles were then withdrawn. After leaving the bench, he retired to his farm near Jonesville. In 1844, while he and his wife were absent from their home, attending church on Sunday morning, a mob took possession of his place and demanded possession of some slaves whom he was holding under writ of sequestration. Upon his refusal to deliver up the negroes, he was killed in the presence of his wife. See J. H. Davenport, Hi8tory of the Sup,·eme Court of Texas, 17; E. W. Winkler (ed.), Secret Journals of the Senate, Republic of Texas, 1896-1845, pp. 144, 174, 214; Z. T. Fulmore, The Hist,n-y and Geography of Texas as Told in Countu; Names, 146. TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1 Executive Department, City of Austin, January 20, 1842. To the Honorable, The House of Representatives: The bill "requiring the Auditor to audit certain claims therein named" has been laid before me. I have examined its provisions, and have arrived at the conclusion, that its passage might greatly injure the public interests. If William N. Mock/ Quarter Master of Militia, kept a correct account of his disbursements and transactions, the Executor, or administrator of his estate would be able to make the necessary returns to the office of the Quarter Master. To pass the bill, would at once render inoperative every salutary check that may have been imposed on him, as a public officer, by the laws under which he acted. However fraudulent and unjust may have been his acts-however reprehensible and illegal his proceedings- however unnecessary and extravagant his expenditures, the pro- posed law could not cure every defect. It provides, moreover, for the acknowledgment of accounts without first knowing what those accounts are; and deprives the accounting officer of the means of ascertaining ,:,,•hen all the lia- bilities created through his agency were satisfied. They might continue to flow in for years; and the government be thus com- pelled to pay unjust claims, amounting perhaps to many thou- sands. I feel it to be an unwelcome task to interpose a negative upon legislation, which many good men might esteem of slight im- portance; but I feel also, that I should be recreant to my duty as Executive, and forgetful of my honor as a man, if I gave my sanction to acts which remove the barriers to fraud and throw wide open the floodgates of heedless and endless extravagances. Our country is yet poor, too poor to be profligate.
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