Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/658

 The situation of Texas, her extensive border subject to hostile incursions for seven hundred miles, the vast extent of her territory, and her scattered population, all are subjects to be considered in reference to this question. If our form of government is to be changed, we must have a regard for the future. The millions now spent by the United States for our frontier, the support of our postal service, the defense of our commerce, must all come from the pockets of our people. Providence has withheld from us in the past year the abundance which has formerly rewarded the care of the husbandman.

The people in many sections are already calling for relief. We can not afford under these circumstances to plunge madly into revolution. The Executive has not yet lost the hope that our rights can be maintained in the Union, and that it may yet be perpetuated. Between constitutional remedies and anarchy and civil war he can see no middle ground. All the glorious associations of our past history prove that hitherto we have been capable of self-government. The tyrants of Europe have ever disputed this fact.

Let us give no strength to their arbitrary dogmas by any action of ours; and whatever maybe our future course let us keep proudly in the ascendant the great principle upon which rests the idea of American liberty. During the present month the Executive has had the honor to receive the Hon. J. M. Calhoun, Commissioner from the State of Alabama, upon the attitude of our national affairs. The correspondence upon that subject is herewith submitted to the Legislature.

In conclusion, gentlemen, the Executive would again press upon your attention the great importance of maintaining the public credit and faith, and would warn you against the consequences of involving the people in debt at this stage of our affairs. We can better pay as we go than we can meet accumulated debt in the future.

May a kind Providence guide you aright. Your obedient servant,.

, February 6, 1861.



In view of the contemplated speedy adjournment of the Legislature, the Executive would again call your attention to the embarrassed condition of the finances, and press upon your attention the importance of adopting such measures as will sustain the government during the present fiscal year.

In the message sent to your honorable body at the commencement of the present session the Executive pressed this subject upon your attention, and in connection with it the importance of providing for the defense of the frontier settlements. These were two of the three objects for which you were convened. The course of your legislation since that period, and the possibility of a severance of the connection of Texas with the Federal Union,