WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1842
469
perhaps made to suffer serious damage. The amount of damage to individuals by the condemnation of land-or the price per acre -is not stipulated in the bill; when it is a fact generally acknowl- edged that whatever is taken from the government and awarded to individuals is regarded as "well enough ;"-and the community not being represented by a person, cannot meet the appeals which are liable to be made to the feelings of men who have to make the decision between a neighbor or a friend and the government. No one can calculate the amount that would be required to pay for the lands, which it may be thought proper, by the command- ers of the posts to condemn. That the posts will be located upon lands of fine quality and in choice places, I presume will be ad- mitted. Then, the present plan, if adopted, would have a tend- ency to involve Texas still deeper in debt and cause a contin- uance of the imputation of national faith disregarded. And if land were to be given in double quantity for the amount con- demned, it would be a waste of the public resources. The amount of land granted by the bill, if the colonists should all be single men, would be one million two hundred and twenty three thou- sand six hundred and eighty acres; and if married men, two millions seven hundred and twenty five thousand eight hundred and eighty eight acres. It is fair to suppose that at least one half of the amount of land proposed has been located already with a view to future settlement. Then no one can suppose if it were condemned, that it would cost the nation less than one million of dollars !-which would be added to our existing embarrassments. And if land were granted in quantity as proposed, millions would be required to satisfy the demands in favor of present owners. These facts, to my mind are of very serious import; and I am satisfied that no corresponding benefits to the country could possibly result. Years would roll by, and Indian wars would rage, not only with the colonists, but would extend to our present frontier. Stations, placed from forty to an hundred miles from our gen- eral frontier, could render it no assistance or protection. The Indians could at any time pass through the line of posts, and without hindrance attack wherever they chose, any part of the frontier, murder people, steal our property and return to the prairies without those stationed at the posts having any knowl- edge of their inroads. If peace is not established with the Indians, and a commerce carried on, they will continue to harrass and annoy us. '!'his
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