Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/339

 of the taxes is thus almost totally destroyed. Were the country laid off into convenient collectoral districts, and a collector appointed for each by the Secretary of the Treasury, and nominated by the President to the Senate, it is believed that existing defects might in a great measure be obviated. The collector thus appointed, under bonds in amount sufficient to indemnify the Government, and with appropriate penalties, would be more directly responsible to the head of the Treasury for the honest and faithful discharge of his duties. As it is, that department remains, in many instances, ignorant of the very names of the collectors of taxes until they themselves choose to make their report, and is thus deprived of the means of protecting the public interests, and of enforcing in all sections of the Republic, as is contemplated by the laws, an equal siipport of the institutions of the country. The Executive, therefore, earnestly recommends the adoption of this system, believing it will tend to the general welfare, and operate impartially upon all our citizens.

It may be well to allude to a fact which has greatly prejudiced the character of the nation. The charge that we had repudiated our government liabilities has been industriously urged, not only abroad but at home, as a cause of distrust and an accusation of bad faith. Other governments of high respectability have done so. Texas never has, and, I trust, never will. It is true that our liabilities were increased to so large an amount, during the administration of my predecessor, as to render it not only expedient, but indispensably necessary, to defer their payment until the country could so far recover as to be able to comply fully with all its obligations. The fact that many of these liabilities were incurred for purposes not only not sanctioned by the Legislature, but entirely illegal and impolitic, has never with me constituted a reason for a refusal to pay them at the earliest moment within our power. Notwithstanding the mischievous and utterly groundless publications emanating from some of our public journals, the good faith of the nation will finally be thoroughly vindicated by the redemption of every dollar for which it stands pledged. That we have not been able to do so before this time has, perhaps, been a fault as well as a misfortune; but nations, like individuals, are sometimes compelled to yield to the force of circumstances.

But Texas has done all in her power, consistent with a due regard to self-existence, to preserve, even under these adverse circumstances, the national faith. From an examination of our statute-book, it will appear that holders of our liabilities have had a fair and favorable chance for secure and profitable investment. Our public domain comprises at least one hundred and fifty millions of choice lands, which have been, and are now, held subject to the redemption of our public debt. The adaptation of our climate and soil to the production of the great staples of the southwestern States of the American Union is, perhaps, superior to that of any other upon the North American continent. These lands may he easily acquired, under existing laws, by all holders of our promissory notes, at two dollars per acre. The opportunities thus presented to foreigners, or non residents, to become possessed of them, are certainly very desirable. Our Constitution inhibits foreigners from holding lands unless the title emanate directly from the Government to the purchaser, which would be the case under the law alluded to. A large portion of our national debt was created by the issuance of promissory notes at six for one; that is, at a par value of sixteen and two-thirds cents in the dollar, and many of them have been ob ained by the