Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/321

 in proportion to our population, unparalleled by any other country; but yet they lie neglected and profitless.

Since the present administration commenced, contracts for colonizing a small portion of our vacant territory have been made, altogether more advantageous to the Government than any previously entered into. But these contracts can prove of no immediate avail to our finances.

If the Executive had been invested with authority to have disposed of a portion of the public domain, there is little doubt that it might have been employed with great advantage to the present and prospective condition of the currency. The policy of husbanding means for the use of posterity can not be justified in the present emergency of our affairs. If we are enabled to leave them in the enjoyment of independence, and free from pecuniary involvement, it is all that we should desire.

Even supposing our national debt to exceed twelve millions of dollars, our means are more than sufficient to pay the whole; and, in a state of peace, our import duties alone would be adequate to defray all the necessary expenses of government, without the necessity of resorting to oppressive taxation. Our vacant lands can be applied to the liquidation of every farthing of our national liabilities, and a large portion still remain untouched.

A matter of the liveliest interest to the community is the regular transportation of the mails; but, for the want of appropriations by the last Congress, their transportation throughout entirely ceased. Communication between the different sections, and the circulation of intelligence, have been wholly obstructed. On account of this state of things, the Executive has found himself greatly embarrassed in disseminating, as well as receiving, correct and speedy information, for he had not one dollar at his disposition for the employment of expresses, even under the most urgent circumstances. During the late excitement rumor was generally the basis of impressions and action which, as was to be expected, not unfrequently produced unpleasant consequences in the community.

Owing to the suspension of the mails, the laws and journals of the last session of Congress have not been distributed, and, it may be remarked that, for some cause unknown to the Executive, an important portion of the public printing has not yet been executed.

In the recent advance of the Mexicans upon Bexar, apprehension for the safety of the Government archives at the city of Austin was so great, that all business in the public offices was suspended, and those in charge of thern deemed it a matter of prudence and security to secrete the public records in the earth, so that if the enemy should advance upon and sack the place, they might not be so liable to destruction.

Under these circumstances, and as soon as the Executive was apprised of the condition of the frontier, and of the apprehensions entertained by the inhabitants, he immediately directed the archives, and such other property as was portable, to be removed to this place. Although the emergency would have justified the step without any express authority under the Constitution or laws, yet, in this case, he was not driven to the assumption of that responsibility. He acted in strict accordance with his powers and duty under the Constitution. He is also fully satisfied of the policy, as well as the necessity, of the location of the seat of government at some point within the Republic where the archives will be secure, and where the functions of the Government can be more efficiently exercised