Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/653

 the 28th of November Mr. Durham declined to accept the appointment, which in the meantime had been tendered him.

The only obstacle in the way of the prompt collection of the amount has been the fact that the vouchers have not been placed in the possession of the War Department. Until this is done the money can not be obtained. The vouchers are in the possession of the Comptroller, and it has been in his power at any time to transmit them either in person or by some safe hand to the Secretary of War. When the claim has progressed thus far toward a settlement, the Executive will direct his endeavors toward securing all that may be justly due the State.

It is also proper to state that since the letter to the Comptroller of October last, stating that the muster rolls, etc., were ready for transmission to Washington, the Executive has been notified that five of the rolls, representing about $40,000 of the amount due, are lost.

An examination of the facts presented will furnish the Legislature the data upon which to base their actions in reference to future operations of the Treasury. It will be seen that there is already a deficit in the revenue necessary to meet the civil expenditures. The ordinary expenses of the Government until the taxes come in in June will be about $30,000 per month. The deficit already existing added to this amount will consume the entire amount then received, and leave the Government totally unprovided for for another year. Not only is this to be provided for, but the treasury warrants now in circulation are to be paid, as well as those rangers who have been, and are now, in service; and means are to be provided for the future defense of the frontier.

From the report of the Comptroller hereunto appended, and made a part of this message, it will be seen that from the 21st of December, 1859, to the 19th of January, 1861, there had been paid out from the Treasury in cash the sum of $763,394.65, and that ten per cent. Treasury warrants had been issued, amounting to $129,556.99, making a total of $892,951.64. Of this amount there was expended:

This entire amount was paid upon expenses, ordinary and extraordinary, incurred prior to the commencement of the term of the present Executive, excepting a portion of the amount paid for expenses of the Legislature. Of the balance, $446,495.83, a considerable portion is of the same character, or for special appropriations not included in the ordinary appropriations of Government. It will be seen that the entire amount of money used by the Executive for the