WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 18/J.2
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part would prevent them from any further aggression. We could restore some twenty prisoners which we hold of the Comanche and other tribes, and receive in exchange our people, whom they hold in the most cruel and unhappy bondage. If, however, we adhere to the avowed policy of "extermination," we may at once surrender all hope of their release and restoration to the em- braces of their families and kindred. I feel confident in the success of the policy which I recommend, and were I not to urge it upon the representatives of the nation, I would feel that I was delinquent in the discharge of my duty to my country and to humanity. Were I not to use every en- deavor within my power to ensure the future safety of our ex- posed frontier and obtain the release of our people, who have been for years prisoners among the various hostile tribes, I should have much to deplore.- With these reasons submitted to the Honorable Congress, for their examination and decision, I feel compelled to return the bill without my approval. 1 "Messages of the Presidents," Cong1·essio11al Papers, also Executive Rec- 01·d Book, No. 40, pp. 35-39, Texas State Library. To THE TEXAS CoNGREss 1 Executive Department, City of Austin, February 2d, 1842. To the honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives. General Hamilton has returned from Europe and reports to me a correspondence between His Majesty, the King of the Belgians, and himself, for procuring the guarantee of that Government on a public loan for this Republic, as an equivalent for certain com- mercial privileges according to the project of a legislative com- pact, of which the enclosed is a copy. 2 I invite the serious at- tention of Congress to this scheme for establishing the public credit of the country and obtaining the means for its security and defence. General Hamilton has also brought with him a plan 2 for the sale and settlement of the public lands of the Republic, and sup- plying laborers from Europe for their cultivation, which together with a scheme for raising money for the country by bonds com- mutable and terminable by 'life annuities, will likewise be pre- sented for your consideration. The various duties now claiming the attention of the Pre:-ident and the situation of the different Departments, nearly destitute of Clerks, have rendered it impossible for the Executive to enter
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