WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1827
115
To THE LEGISLATURE OF TENNESSEE 1
Executive Office, Nashville 15th Oct. 1827 Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives: In the legislating for a Government like ours, where many of cur most valuable institutions are founded on experiment, the best informed minds could not in the earlier progress of things, determine with reasonable certainty upon the regulations and rules of action best suited to the circumstances of society, and the permanent good of the country. Experience alone can de- velop the fitness of measures, and the salutary or pernicious influence of particular laws. · It is a duty, however, which you take pleasure in acknowledging, that you will examine with pa- tience and great care into the nature and extent of alleged grievances and their proposed remedies. If the subject has re- ceived any lights from the history of our own times, or our own country, opinions can be formed with less difficulty, and nothing which is not in itself morally wrong, is more to be deprecated in a free country than excessive legis!ation. The simplicity of our laws, in connexion with the certainty of their execution, is perhaps better calculated to inspire confidence in the citizen, and regard for the institutions of his country, than any other motive which can be presented to his mind. The neces- sity of all law grows out of the wants and interests of society, and when these are relieved or defended, we may always rely with much confidence on the virtue and intelligence of the people. In the early settlement of all parts of our country, the attention of the pioneers had been naturally and properly directed to the collecting around them comforts and conveniences, necessary to the sustentation of life, but with the progress of improvement, great and accumulating surplus products have arisen, which re- quire artificial facilities in conveying them to market, in addition to the advantages afforded by our water courses in their natural state. Hence it has been for many years past, public attention has, by my predecessors in office, been repeatedly called to the subject of internal improvements. All agree that it is a matter legitimately, if not exclusively, within the scope of separate state jurisdiction, and all are equally agreed, that great and valuable improvements could be made within our State, at a comparatively moderate expenditure of! the public funds. A chief obstacle to the attainment of these ends has heretofore been found in the selection of such points of commencement as
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