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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
481
to her citizens and the world by the circumstances which have caused the act. Our public lands have not been brought into market, and our agents have been wholly unsuccessful in obtain- ing the loan. To reconsolidate the funded debt, by a legislative mandate, and to vary entirely the terms under which it was created, to my mind have not full grounds of justification for the support of the measure. The holders of it can only be told that Texas is unable, at present, and will be probably for some time to come, to pay the principal or the interest. But our prospective resources are boundless and when time shall have developed them, Texas will be enabled to make such arrangements with her creditors as will be satisfactory. In the meantime the Honorable Congress will have more time to calmly deliberate upon the best expedients to be adopted for the country as well as its creditors. It would be impossible for those who might prefer the alterna- tive of receiving land in payment of their demands, to receive any benefit from the course, unless the country set apart should be surveyed and sectionized, as well as marked upon a map. It would be impossible, also, to ascertain from a map, whereon imaginary lines merely are drawn, and without surveys actually made, where any tract of land could be found, within the general limits of the reservation. With great deference to the opinions of the Honorable Con- gress, I am compelled to believe that immediate action, by law, is not necessary at the present moment; and that the bill would operate unjustly, and would set at naught the words and spirit of the constitution. Under these impressions, I cannot give the bill my approval. 1 "Messages of the Presidents," Congressional Papers,· also, Executive Record Book, No. 40, pp. 44-45. To THE TEXAS CoNGREss 1 Executive Department, City of Austin, February 5h., 1842. To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives: Previous to your adjournment, I deem it my imperious duty to present to your consideration, the exposed condition of the na- tional archives. Since their removal to this place, a constant military force has been at the disposition of the President. The large amount of money placed at the disposal of the former Execu-
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