WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842 123 It is a principle in all well regulated republican governments that no power which can be exercised by the citizen in his indi- vidual capacity should be delegated to his representative but remain vested in him as an indefeasible right; and that the repre- sentative should never exercise power the delegation of which is questionable, or attempt its exercise where it might be liable to abuse. Agents are responsible to the people under the great con- stitutional charter of their liberty. The delegated powers are expressly granted and defined-all others remain with the people. The concurrent will of all the three departments of the govern- ment united, co'ttld not render valid a principle and make it bind- ing upon the people, which was not set forth and guaranteed by the constitution. The approval by the President of the principles set forth by the Congress would not justify the exercise on his part of the extraordinary powers tendered by the bill. The citizens of the Republic regard him as the chief conservator of the constitution, and as such he should ever feel it a duty in- cumbent upon him to resist every apparent encroachment upon their rights, but never to exercise one of questionable character. Principle is eternal and never changes-men and things do change. If it would be wrong to clothe an individual with powers, who might, by their exercise, bring ruin upon his country; it is equally at war with principle, that a man should exercise powers improperly granted, though it were intended for the salvation of his country. I cannot perceive that the constitution authorises any where the powers granted in the second and seventh sections of the bill; and if no other objection than this existed to the bill, I would deem it insuperable. The Executive duly appreciate the flattering testimony of con- fidence, which has been manifested by the Honorable Congress in the integrity and patriotism of his heart. He can never be in- sensible to the approbation of his countrymen, and when ex- pressed by the assembled wisdom of the nation it assumes the most imposing and grateful character; and he is proud to assure the Honorable Congress that if every facility and all the means requisite for the accomplishment of a war of invasion were at his command, the powers granted by the bill should never be exercised by him to the prejudice of his country. He has been and is connected with the building up and existence of the govern- ment and no circumstance could ever induce him to raise a par- ricidal arm against it. Its establishment, its prosperity and its
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