WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
189
were drawn with a certafo tenor, you were apprised of the cir- cumstances under which they were issued, and certainly it furnished you an excuse, or even justification, if you needed one, so long as you acted in accordance with this understanding. It was not supposed, nor is it general in governmental matters, that the public are to be made acquainted with all the minute transactions of business or the justifiable expedients which may be adopted to counteract the influence of men who are ever ready to thwart the measures of Government and who have a single eye to their individual interest without one feeling but that which is prompted by a love of gain, or by the reachings of averice. There certainly could be no bad faith or jugglery in making such suggestions to an officer of customs as would enable him to do justice to the Government by complying with the understanding which was had with the claimants when they obtained the demand. I am yet at a loss to know what the object was in placing money in the hands of individuals when if it had been deposited in the Treasury it would certainly [have] been as secure and would have incurred less individual responsi- bility to the collector. I regret that you have thought that any principle was laid down for your government which you could not recognize, and where duties and responsibilities of other Departments were shifted upon you. I do not comprehend your meaning in relation to the shifting of duty and responsibility upon you. I thought in all cases in which you had been called upon you had tendered your services, and as such they were accepted with pleasure. I did not expect them to increase your labor, or your responsi- bilities further than a general supervision and direction would involve. I perceive that your inveteracy to the law still exists. You cannot be reconciled to it, and deem it as " impolitic as it is unjust." It is, nevertheless, the law, and we will have to obey it whether we are in or out of office. It has received all the legal and constitutional sanctions of the Government. With the best wishes for your happiness and prosperity, I am truly your friend, Sam Houston [Rubric] '"Houston's Private Executive Record Book," pp. 361-363, courtesy of Mr. Franklin Willia.ms.
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