287
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
tant to them both to secure your Commerce- No Cordon that the U S could establish could prevent all the S ·western States & part of Ohio Indiana & Illinois from getting their supplies of ma,nu- :factured articles through Texas- so long as our Impost System continues- Annexation to the U States- On this subject I need say but little- for I know you were originally opposed to it-and unless you find no other means of preserving your existence as a free people- I trust you remain so-So long as you would desire to act effectually on the Govts of Europe- the idea should not be encouraged but scoutcd- Trndc- You are so entirely an advocate of Free Trade as well as I am, that I need say but little on this head-I would begin as early as possible to procure the means for the support of Govt-by direct Taxes- & abandon the Impost system altogether-But this will not be ·good policy so long as your ncgocia,tions with England & France require you to hold out to them free admission of their goods- & it may be necessary to give to one or the other the exclusive right of supply- ing your people for a term of years- for other considerations of more importance to you at present-Under your circumstances you must not expect to do all you wish - but to effect the most that you ca11,-- Establish Justice, good order, and secure the rights to prop- erty- & i:f possible limit the suffrage to the freeholders of 320 acres Land-And with such provisions for constitutional altera,tions as will effectually protect them against the inroad of Demagogues here- aft,er -in such a cause you might afford to be a ~fartyr- Public officers- Hold them all to a strict accountability- adopt a, rigid system in the beginning-you can at any time soften it- but it will be very difficult to obtain it otherwise-Let a personal performance of their duties as well as strict accounta,hility for funds be rigidly required in all cases-An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure- Have no favorites- nor any enemies- but evildoers- But you may use policy in your measures- it is not always necessary to speak out plainly-tho' it is generally- Encourage Agricultural Industry by such assurances of pro- tection in the enjoyment of its results to the owner- as the strength of your government can give-Let his Land titles be established beyond question- Let his products find the best & freest markets & Le~ his supplies come to him on the easiest and cheapest terms-Let Agriculture flourish & my word :for it, all other interests (which indeed rest upon it)-must of neces- sity prosper-Let Justice be administered with economy & speed- & in criminal cases with the just view of the Law- i. e. to deter evil- doers & not to gratify revengeful feelings- Give all possible countenance to Religion, let the pious & upright Christians be preferred in all public matters-Couse all public officers to give aid & protection to religious people and to religious observances-Yourself give the example of your influence and your observance of all, Christian duties & countenancing the :Ministers of
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