WRITINGS OF 5.UI HOUSTON, 1822-1841
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attempt, we hope unwittingly, of this kind has recently been made by the House of Representatives to infringe on the priv- ileges and dignity of the Executive. It is, we believe, a rule in the United States, and one for which General Houston, last year in his place in Congress, contended that, inasmuch as the Presi- dent is the real and responsible head of the Government, all calls for information from any of the Departments should be made through him. The heads of departments stand in the same rela- tion to him that the chief clerks do to the heads of departments, and it would be highly reprehensible and improper for the Presi- dent, slighting his Cabinet officer, to call officially on that officer's chief clerk for information connected with his department; so, in like manner, is it derogatory of the executive of the nation to call on his subordinate officers for information which properly can . only be obtained through him. These remarks are occasioned by a call recently made by the House on the Acting Secretary of the Treasury for information relative to a lately issued Executive order. The Secretary, we believe, denied the right of Congress to make the call on him. It would almost appear as though Congress, which was sent here to sustain the President, having first crippled his power and de- prived him of the assistance necessary for carrying on the Government, was now determined to cap the climax, and add insult to injury As some attempts might, perchance, by interested persons, be made to misrepresent the Executive order which has induced the House, forgetful of the respect due the President of Texas, to call on the Acting Secretary of the Treasury for information, we will endeavor, as far as the particulars have come to our ears, to explain the same. By an act approved the 5th of Feb., 1841, the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized to pay the District Judges $1,000, each, in par funds; this amount they had never received; and had suffered many privations for the want thereof. This was presented to General Houston, and he author- ized the Comptroller, as an act of justice to the Judges, .and as in part carrying out the law making the appropriation, to pass the Judges' accounts for one half of the $1,000 authorized by the act of Congress, which amount, under said Executive order, was paid in Texas Promissory Notes, at the rate of six for one, though at the time they were actually passing at the rate of eight f~n· one.
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