520
\VRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1836
to bounty land, to open the land office, until such rules are estab- lished, as to the selection and location of bounty land, as will p~ace them on a just equality with others. There have been three dif- ferent colonization laws passed by the state of Coahuila and Texas, and two by the national or general congress of Mexico ; and land is also claimed by titles emanating from the Spanish government. I cannot conceive how a general land system can be adopted, or how congress can legislate clearly and understand- ingly on this subject, without an examination of those laws; and what has been done under them. The short time I have had to examine this bill, will not permit me to state my objections in detail to each article; and they are many. I consider it sufficient that the bill in general is inadequate, and does not suit the necessities or the situation of the country; and also that no evil can possibly result from a suspension of this subject until the next meeting of congress, inasmuch as the land offices are not to be opened until June, or one month after such meeting. It is also worthy of consideration, that this law, if sanctione~ and published now, will only serve to distract the public mind, and divert public attention from the defence of the country against the common enemy, and direct almost exclusively to the location of land scrip, and to land speculation. The rights of actual settlers are secured by the constitution, and cannot be im-
paired by delaying this subject until next congress. For these reasons, I cannot approve of this bill.
Sam Houston 1 Ho21se Journal, Re1rnblic of of Texas, 1st Cong., 1st Sess., 301-302.
TO THE TEXAS SENATE 1 Executive Department, Columbia, 21st Deer. 1836.
To the Honorable The Senate Gentlemen: T"he accompanying list 2 of officers has been this day returned to me by the Secretary of the Navy, and by him recommended as suitable persons to fill the respective stations assigned to each. I have therefore the pleasure to nominate those individuals to you for the appointments mentioned in that return. Sam Houston (Rubric) 1"Messages of the Presidents," Congressional PaJJers, Texas State Library. 2 The message did not contain the enclosure.
Powered by FlippingBook