Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/314

 thereby contribute a fair proportion to the support of the Government. If the farmer is necessarily compelled to purchase articles for consumption of foreign importation, he will contribute through the merchant to that branch of revenue — the merchant having added the duty to the price of the article sold. The merchant will receive the produce of the farmer in exchange for his goods, whereas, otherwise, the farmer would pay cash into the treasury for his direct taxes, where, of course, nothing could be receivable but money.

Thus have I submitted my views to the Congress, in relation to the finances ol the country, not in the spirit of dictation, but of recommendation and advisement. Upon the system that may be adopted depends our national existence.

The Executive being held responsible for the execution of the laws and the defense of the nation, must have the necessary means placed at his command for their accomplishment. At this time there are none; nor has the President, on any occasion, any disposition to violate the Constitution by expending the substance of the country, or incurring national liabilities, by the use of means which have not been appropriated to him by the laws. This will become a subject for the consideration of the honorable Congress, and is so impressively manifest that I need not urge it as a subject of importance upon your attention. It is expected by our constituents, and they ought not to be disappointed. It is the peculiar province of the Congress to furnish the Executive with means to execute his duties to the country in affording protection to its citizens. Without means he can neither execute his trusts nor redeem his obligations.

During my former term of service, as the Executive of the nation, the then Congress denied me all requisite aid for the defense of the country. Repeated calls were made upon me for assistance and protection against Indian incursion and depredation, and I could render neither because the means had been denied me, and my power had been transferred to the Major-General of the Militia. Evil was produced to the country by these unauthorized acts, whilst the Executive was held responsible by the people or misfortunes which are attributable to the Congress alone. It is sincerely to be hoped that like unfortunate and improvident legislation may never again be experienced in our country.

With regard to our navy, I deem but few remarks necessary. Its situation and condition have been subjects of discussion before the honorable Congress for some time past, and as its final action has not been taken in relation to the matter, a becoming sense of official decorum will, for the present, suspend the expression of my opinion. If the law, directing the course which shall be pursued with the navy, remains unaltered, I shall proceed forthwith in its execution, according to the intention and in the spirit with which it was enacted.

The subject of reform is one which has claimed the attention and consideration of the people, and one, in my opinion, of general as well as vital importance to the country. A judicious system of economy now adopted may be of advantage for the future. It must be beneficial if its provisions are not violated. The time when retrenchment was necessary and important, and would have prevented our present calamities, has gone by. Whether the precautionary measures adopted by legislation have been executed or not, is for the Congress to determine. Reform, it would seem, is intended for the remedy of evils which have existed—the greatest of which is the unnecessary expenditure of the public resources. To prevent this for the future, if it has already been the case, is not only the duty of the Legislature but of the Executive, so far as the