Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/654

 of the frontier is $76,937.73, and that the entire amount of warrants issued for the same service is $63,843.39, making a total of $139,781.02. Deducting this from the above, $446,495.83, it will be seen that the amount expended in the past year for the ordinary expenses of Government, including such special appropriations and amounts due, as are not enumerated above, was $306,674.71.

It is the opinion of the Executive that the estimate made, $155,000, will cover the entire indebtedness on account of frontier defense for the past year. The entire operations have been conducted with the strictest economy. The troops have been supplied upon contract at exceedingly low rates, and all officers held to strict accountability. When the number of men kept in the field, and the distant points to which supplies have been sent, are considered, the entire cost is not great.

The expenses of keeping a regiment in the field one year were estimated by the Comptroller to be $603,000. Should a contingency arise by which the Federal army will he disbanded, and the Indians, now under treaty stipulations with the Federal Government, and controlled by them, be turned loose, large appropriations will be necessary for the defense of our frontier. But should the present state of things continue, it will be necessary to maintain a force of rangers in the field. The frontier must be defended in any event, and it is not improbable that the financial difficulties already attending the Government will be felt in the Indian Department, and there may be failures in carrying out the treaties with the Indians. Trouble will ensue, much of which will be felt by our border.

The Executive would, therefore, present the following estimates to sustain the Government the present year, and to meet deficiencies:

The expenses of the present session of the Legislature are also to be provided for.