WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1841
416
possible,) as many Paixhan cannon as would be absolutely neces- sary for the protection of at least Galveston and Matagorda bays. A battery situated upon each of these bays, is conceived indis- pensable to prevent the entrance of the enemy, should they obtain the naval armament, which, it would seem, is not without reason- able probability. I regard the fortification of those two points as important to the safety of the country in the event of any move- ·ment of the enemy. They will not invade us, unless they are as- sured they possess decided naval superiority. In that event, we should be prepared for every annoyance which they may be cap- able of inflicting upon us. This recommendation is made with due regard to our financial condition. The possession of Gal- veston would be an object of primary importance with the enemy; and a comparatively trifling expense would be sufficient to render any attempt of the kind fruitless. . On the subject of the naval agency, I would make one remark; that is that I have always regarded, and do still regard the duties of executive and disbursing officers directly opposite in their ~haracter; and whenever amalgamated, they are calculated to produce confusion. They cease to operate as checks upon each other, and present every inducement to the individual so em- ployed, to practise fraud and peculation upon the government to an amount much greater than would pay salaries to proper officers necessarily employed, who would operate as checks upon each other. The practice and experience of all governments go clearly to demonstrate these facts; and it is no matter whether they are monarchial or republican. In relation to the proposition to fit out the Zavala by Yucatan, I would most especially recommend that we have nothing further to do with that state, as I regard it in no other light than as the theater of insurrectionary movements, stimulated by motives of personal policy, and terminating in short lived and bloodless revo- lutions-the ulterior designs of which, when developed, we may have ample reason to regret. I regard all foreign alliances as wholly unnecessary to the prosperity of the T'exian nation. The other suggestions of the communication from the Depart- ment of War, are presented in a manner sufficiently explicit to supersede the necessity of any further remark from the Execu- tive. Sam Houston [Rubric] ·1"Messages of the Presidents" Congressioncil Pape1·s; also Executive Rec- ord Book No. 40, p. 12, Texas State Library.
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