The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 25, July 1921 - April, 1922 Page: 35
306 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Texas Cobavtion of 1845
all officers not otherwise provided for, that he should have the
power to grant pardons and reprieves, and that he should see that
all laws were faithfully executed were adopted without much dis-
cussion. But the question of veto, on legislation received consid-
erable attention, since there was a diversity of opinion as to the
propriety and wisdom of vesting this power in the governor. The
committee had recommended that the executive's veto be over-
ruled by a majority vote, but Frank Moore, thinking that this
would not give the executive sufficient strength, moved to sub-
stitute "two-thirds" for "majority." R. E. Baylor declared that
if this extent of power was given to the executive, there would be
much dissatisfaction and that it would eventually lead to "dis-
astrous consequences." In reply to this Van Zandt said that
"power is dangerous," and the only way to disarm it and free it
from a dangerous tendency is to divide it. If the unlimited power
to enact laws is vested in Congress alone, it will produce more
"confusion and disorganization than any power vested in the gov-
ernor." President Rusk in his discussion dwelt at length upon
the advantages of the provision, since it would tend to prevent
"hasty legislation" and "too. much legislation." A. S. Lipscomb
admitted that it would have "a wholesome and salutary effect
upon hasty legislation," nevertheless, he considered it inconsistent
with the principles of all free governments for the will of the
majority to be thwarted by the veto of the governor. Others ob-
jected to the veto power, as they were unwilling for the governor
"to participate in any manner whatsoever in the legislative power."
However, despite the fact that several of the most influential
members of the convention opposed the adoption of either the
provision as recommended by the committee or the substitute
offered by Moore, the latter was adopted by a large majority.24
Another section of the executive committee's report that met
with strong opposition was the provision that the Secretary of
State should be elected by the qualified voters. The editor of the
Texas National Register in commenting upon this recommenda-
tion said:
This provision is taken from the Mississippi constitution, and
embodies the most reprehensible notion of that most reprehensible
'4Debates of the Convention, 134-146.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 25, July 1921 - April, 1922, periodical, 1922; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101082/m1/41/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.