WRITINGS OF SA.M HOUSTON, 1844
537
and were he not fully aware of the struggles which must conse- quently be encountered to preserve its existence, he might then permit his feelings of respect for those who had served the country long and well, and his sympathies for their sufferings, to influence his action as the Chief Magistrate of a generous people. But now our circumstances are such as to enforce upon him a course absolutely necessary, as he conceives, for maintaining even the semblance of a government. Were the numerous bills for private relief, which have already been presented to him for approval, to become laws, the aggregate sum appropriated would so much overburthen the financial ability of the nation as to cripple and embarrass its government to a very serious extent. For these reasons, aside from the want of some very important provisions to enable officers of the Treasury Department to act advisedly, both as to the object of the appropriation and authority to audit, the Executive is compelled to return the bill "for the relief of Col. J. C. Neill," to the House in which it originated without his signature. If, however, the Honorable Congress should not concur in the reasons assigned for witholding his approval form this and other bills for private relief, it will only require the same majority in both houses to overrule his negative, that originally passed them, under that provision of the constitution, which declared that "no appropriations shall be made for private or local purposes, unless two thirds of each House concur in such appropriations. Sam Houston. 1 "Messages of the Presidents," Cong1·essional Papers, Eighth Congl'css; also, Executive Recorcl Book, No. 40, pp. 319-320. Journals of the House of Rep?·ese1itative.~ of the Re1mbl-ic of Texas, 8th Cong., 1st Sess., p. 37-1. TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESL Executive Department, Washington, January 29th, 1844. To the Honorable, the House of Representatives: The Executive is constrained, among other things by the con- sideration of the inability of the country at this time to meet the various private claims of individuals, to return to the House without signature, a bill "for the relief of Robert Pace," and a bill "for the relief of Mrs. Sarah N. Hubert." The first does not indicate for what service the relief is in- tended to be granted; and the latter is open to a serious objection,
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