WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1843
402
course of a few days, I will request him to address you more at length than I am now able to do, and furnish you with a detail of the circumstances connected with the unhappy event we so much deplore. I bear willing testimony to the many Rocial and manly virtues of your lamented brother. He was universally beloved and es- teemed by all who knew him. He was gifted with genius and talents as well as a heart filled with the noblest charity towards all men. We could wish he had found a better fate; but the ways of Providence are inscrutable. Begging you, for yourself and your aged mother to accept the assurance of my: sincere condolence, I am very truly yours, Sam Houston. 1 Executive Record Book, }..·o. 40, p. 253, Texas Stnte Library. 2 William S. Ransom was the brother of James B. Ransom who in 1839, was private secretary to Houston, and was elected reporter for the Fourth Congress, November 14, 1839. See Harriet Smither (ed.), Jounials of the Fourth Congress of the Republic of Texas, I, 35.
To THOMAS J. RUSK 1 Executive Department, Washington, :May 31, 1843.
To Gen. Thomas J. Rusk: Sir - Your communication of the 20th instant, in which you announced the receipt of your commission as Major General, has been received. The President has never, even up to the present time, been officially apprised by Congress of your election to that office. The commission, which indeed confers no power of itself and is merely evidence of your official character, was sent you without being asked for. Your election by the Congress, conferred all the power necessary to the full execution of your duties. The law under which you were elected 2 has defined your duties as Major General, and the President has no control over your actions as such. By the law he is divested of all such power. This con- stituted the principal ground of my veto to the bill. Those portions of your letter which properly fall within the purview of the War and Treasury Departments were immediately referred to them for their consideration and action. It was confidently expected that you would at a very early day, either commence the execution of your duties or notify the proper
Powered by FlippingBook