Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/328

 been received in relation to the mediation of that power between Texas and Mexico. It is hoped, however, that before the adjournment of the present session it will be in the power of the Executive to submit to the honorable Congress important information embracing that subject. A treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation has been negotiated by our minister, the Hon. James Reily, with the Government of the United States. The treaty not having yet been received, it will not be within the power of the Executive to submit it to the honorable Senate for their consideration as early as he anticipated. Its arrival, however, is daily expected.

Nothing is better calculated to present the deplorable financial condition of Texas than the situation of our post-office and mail establishment. For the years 1840 and 1841, not less than one hundred and ninety thousand four hundred and seventy dollars in promissory notes, besides four thousand two hundred and fifty-eight dollars in Exchequer bills, were appropriated to sustain the establishment. For the service of the present year. Congress appropriated only five thousand dollars in Exchequer bills, without making any allowance for their depreciation, nor did they leave any discretion with the Executive to sustain this important branch of the Government. Texas, at this time, furnishes the singular fact of a government without the means of conveying intelligence, or distributing the laws throughout the Republic. It is, doubtless, the only community on earth at this time, purporting to be a nation, that is similarly situated. Instead of inquiring into causes which have produced this state of things, and the reasons which enforce them upon the country, it is imputed to the delinquency of the administration. It is for Congress to determine whether means can be devised; and if they can, whether they will be employed in sustaining the mail establishment. There is reason to believe that the proceeds arising from a well-regulated mail establishment would go far towards defraying the expenses incident to its maintenance. The diffusion of general intelligence throughout a country like ours, subject to the frequent causes of excitement on the frontier, is of great importance. The ready circulation of intelligence would prevent much confusion and commotion throughout the country, and enable the Executive to command the means of its defense with some degree of certainty; whereas, he has had to rely alone upon the procurement of expresses, without the means at his command of even defraying their expenses while in service. When, indeed, he could obtain them at all, they had to rely upon the future ability of the Government for compensation. A free government can not exist without mails. At the called session in June, the attention of the honorable Congress was most earnestly invoked to this subject, but met with no favorable response, and has therefore remained neglected up to this time for the want of means, though, with great exertions, some of the principal routes have been partially maintained.

Another subject of some importance in the present crisis I deem it my duty to present to the honorable Congress. In the month of March last, during the incursion of the enemy, under the provisions of the Constitution, the President felt it to be his imperative duty to order a removal of the archives and heads of departments from the city of Austin to a place of safety. As to the propriety and necessity of the act, no reasonable doubt could exist. The Constitution declares that the President and heads of departments shall remain and keep their offices at the seat of government, unless removed by the permission of Congress,