PAPERS OF illRABEAU ·Boo~ AP.ARTE LAMAR
291
force of the Iexican nation. And sh~uld ,ve be so fortunate as·to sustain ourselves a a free and independent nation, what would be our·condition Y We would have the waste lands of Texas, which we would have to give aw-ay, to induce emigration, and as bounty to volunteers, and would be saddled with a debt of million of dolla1•s. And what revenue would we have to pay it with 1 Nothing but the inconsi,ierable duties to be co11ected at our ports, and heavy direct taxes. Already it is e timated that the expense o! the war is five hundred thousand dollars. In one year from this time, under a declaration of independence, it will amount to millions; and Texas, contemptible abroad for her poverty and weakness, will -at once become the prey of internal faction and misrule. A standing army must be constantly kept up, foreign relations attended to, and ten million of dollars, annually, would be Tequired to defray the ex- pense: and from what •source, in the name of heaven! could we derive the means Y The id€a is madness, and the argument in favor of such a ~ourse, must be opposed ·to the sober conviction of every mind: Dy tl1e organization of a state government, based on th~ con- stitution of 1824, we unite to us the liberal party; we inspire them with confidence, and for the future, exercise an important influence: we have their ports open to our cotton and produce of every kind, free of duty; we restore the constitution; we have the national government to pay the expenses of the present war; we have peace at home, and rid ourselves of the enormous expense of a standing army, and, in all probability, escape "A Caesar and his people." Un- der such a state of things we will go on to increase in population and wealth, ,and will at once be in the enjoyment of that prosperity which our abundant natural resources give us the means of pos- sessing. An independent government would, we admit, be better suited to the genius and interest of tho e who might be in power: it holds out as inducements, honors, and titles, and offices, and salaries; but to those in the ordinary r-anks of life, it brings poverty, and toil, and war, and taxes. Even now, backed as we are by the liberals, it ha,s been thought neces. ary to establish a regular army, with up- wards of one hundred officer ; the expense of which will be•,about fifty thousand dollars per month, or six hundred thousand dollars annually; and taking all other expenses in consideration, with probable loss, will double the amount. To pay thi amount, if we estimate the families in Texas at seven thou and, would be a tax on each family of about one hundred and seventy dolla,rs per annum; and considering the other necessary expenses, would make the direct tax at least two hundred dollars to each family, under the present -arrangement. Under a declaration of independence, the tax would be one thousand dollars to each family; but under a state govern- ment properly organized, the expense might be estimated at about forty thousand dollars annually; or, about six dollar to each family. Thus, fellow-citizens, I have endeavored plainly and candidly to lay my views before you, and I would conjure every friend of Texas to rou e from his slumbers, to put forth his trength, or he may
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