WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1840
351
upon me during the important crisis through which Texas has passed, is peculiarly gratifying to me. Whether I am in private or public station, I must ever feel unceasing devotion to the pros- perity of my country. Viewing the condition of the nation, we have much to deplore; but our situation is not such as to induce us to despair of ultimate success and prosperity. The finances of the nation have been destroyed by the excessive issue of treas- ury notes, the useless and extravagant expenditures of the gov- ernment! Nothing profitable has been produced to the country! The frontier is unprotected, our citizens have been called from their homes without necessity, when their presence was all im- portant to their crops-the only means of subsisting their families !-the regular army inactive, though millions have been expended in its creation; the Indians harrassing our citizens, and penetrating our country even to the seaboard; our credit de- stroyed; the citizens oppressed by taxes for the want of a sound currency, and our national debt increased six fold within the last year! It is vain to attempt concealment of our situation any longer from the public eye,-the depression of every class of the community proclaims that there is rottenness at the core! The power yet remains in the people, and by selecting honest and fearless representatives, who will investigate the causes which have led to the present state of affairs, we can be preserved as a nation. It is our duty as freemen and citizens not to forget the sacred character of our institutions; let us adhere to the prin- ciples of our Constitution, and the liberty which we have achieved, support the laws, and preserve order in the community until a constitutional remedy can be applied to cure the evils experienced by the people. The representatives of the people are the grand jurors of the nation, and have power to hold accountable either faithless, corrupt, or incapable executive agents. Let this be done, and let every citizen unite in the preservation of order, and in upholding our beloved country in its tribulation. Individual enterprise, industry, and patriotism are the only means to be relied upon in the present crisis-they are the source of individual wealth and happiness-they will enable the citizens to meet the necessary and just demands of the government. The citizen who enjoys plenty and domestic ease can contribute to the support of government without feeling oppression,-a govern- ment can never be poor when its citizens are rich ;-they will support the institutions that render to them protection of their property and their lives. It is therefore the duty of public agents
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