WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
403
Department of your non-acceptance of the office, that the Senior Brigadier General might, under the law, proceed to carry out its provisions. The Executive expected in the event of your acceptance of the appointment from Congress, that measures would be "forthwith" adopted to organize the militia and have the companies stationed at their respective posts as prescribed by law. It is strange that after the lapse of more than four months from your election, you should announce to me that you are "placed in a most delicate and responsible situation," and that "the country expects at your hands prompt and efficient action." It is to be regretted that you had not been impressed, at an earlier period with the condition of the West, which, within the last "seven years" has been "so frequently outraged and plundered." It cannot be supposed that the want of your commission has caused the delay of "prompt and efficient action" on your part; for, early in the month of March last, you commenced action by the appointment of Mr. Mayfield Inspector General-an office not known to law. If you, in that instance, acted without law, it ought not to have suspended your action in the execution of the provisions of the law under which you were elected. Since you have introduced the subject of pending negotiations by foreign friendly powers, I may be allowed to remark that I conceive the subject is entirely disconnected with the perfor- mance of the duties assigned you. The law under which you act was professedly designed for "the protection of the Western and South Western frontier," and in that object your duties as well as responsibilities end. As it was given by the constitution to the President to superintendent our diplomatic relations, and as he, from his position would most probably possess a better knowl- edge of the affairs of the country than a Major General who could know very little of the international correspondence, and who had the duties of his own particular station to manage, it is at least reasonable to suppose that he would be the proper [person], with the assistance of his cabinet, to judge these mat- ters. At all events it has been made his duty and he alone is responsible to the nation. The organization of the militia and the protection of the frontier have been assigned to you; but not the treaty making power which, as yet, under the constitution remains with the President and Senate. The contents of your letter having reference to the appro- priation of money will be answered by the Secretary of the Treas- ury, to whom the law has given the control and management of
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