297
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
It seems almost unnecessary to advert to the additional expense which would accrue to the country from creating such a feature in its military system. The additional expense would be more than one thousand dollars per month, an item which, in our pres- ent financial condition, would appear but illy to comport with the interest or ability of the country. If Congress thinks proper to authorize the raising of a force, and will place means at the disposition of the Executive, they may rest assured that through proper officers, responsible to the law, and governed by military usages, he ·will execute his duty with economy, system and alacrity. If the Executive could perceive that the contemplated measure ·would be attended with any probable benefit to the country, or give to the militia any additional character or efficiency, which it does not otherwise possess, he would feel it his duty, and it would afford him satisfaction to approve it. But from experience and seven years' critical observation of military operations in Texas, and of the evils which have resulted to the nation, both on the score of expense and from a want of subordination to the authorities of the country, and their causes, he is constrained to believe that he should lend his sanction to no bill which would create an office above and irresponsible to the laws and the constitution. With these objections, he respectfully returns the bill to the House, in which it originated, without his signature. Sam Houston. 1 Jour11als of the House of Rep,·esentativcs of the Republic of Texas, 7th Cong., 1st Sess., pp. 270-275. Executive Record Book, No. 40, pp. 207-211, Texas State Library. To THE TEXAS SENATE 1 Executive Department, Washington, January 16th, 1843. To the Honorable, the Senate: I herewith respectfully submit, for the constitutional advice, and action of your Honorable Body, the nomination of George W. Hill, for Secretary of War and Marine. Sam Houston. 1 ''Messages of the Presidents," Congressional Pci7,ei·s, Seventh Congress; also Executive Reco,·d Book, No. 40, p. 211, Texas State Library. E. W. Winkler (ed.), Secret Jounials of the Senate, Republic of Texas, lSSG-1845, p. 276.
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