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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
118
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this power exists, it is not to be found amopg the enumerated powers expressly delegated by the constitution to the Congress; and to me it is clear that no such power has been delegated but is expressly reserved to the people. If Congress does not possess such power, then such a law would be unconstitutional. Were the Executive to sanction any such law, with a belief that no such power did exist, he would violate his duty to his country and to himself. To commence invasion, the troops should be engaged for and during the continuance of the war; and for one year's service, with such a force as will ensure success, not less than two millions of money will be required-embracing at the same time the sup- plies we might derive from our enemy. To command this amount of money would have been difficult for our country at any period, and particularly so at this time, when embarrassments exist to a more distressing extent, than perhaps at any previous period in our history. That we have valuable and almost boundless re- sources, almost all will admit; but they are not available, and we have not therefore the means indispensable to the prosecution of a campaign. Resources are one thing-means are another. Instead of means, Congress has placed at the disposition of the Executive ten mil- lions of acres of land, for the purpose of raising means sufficient to prosecute the war. The Executive does not possess the facili- ties requisite to convert these resources into means. To effect a disposition of lands, by sale or hypothecation in the United States, would not be practicable. There unimproved cotton lands, which were selling five years since at from thirty to forty dollars per acre, can now be purchased improved at from one to three dollars per acre. It cannot be reasonable to suppose that lands, neither designated nor surveyed, within the vast domain of Texas, could at once become a desirable object of acquisition either to the spec- ulator or planter. Our statutes hold out inducements to emigrants to come and possess our soil by occupany alone, and not by purchase. Hundreds of thousands of acres of scrip heretofore issued by the Government of Texas can be obtained in quantities in the United States, at a price not exceeding twenty five dollars for six hundred and forty acres. Under these circumstances, it cannot be supposed that money or means for conducting a campaign to an amount that would be effective could be raised in the United States by the hypothecation or sale of ten millions of acres of
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