WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
392
city of Austin; and an universal ferment and dissatisfaction existed over our entire frontier. The 20,000 Exchequer bills were not suffi- cient to have supported one company of infantry for six months, and none but mounted men would have been of any use or given any protection. The effect was that only such portion of the money was expended as could be made conducive to the public security and a large balance remained in the Treasury subject to the action of Congress. The refusal of the honorable Congress to place such means within the control of the President as would enable him to afford protection to the frontier, is to be regretted. The suffering citizens of the frontier have looked to him for assistance and protection; and because he was unable to comply with their wants and wished, he has been censured and abused. The question has seldom been asked whether Congress had given him tlie means to comply. The truth is, when money has been appropriated in an amount to do any good, it has been placed within the control of some genei·al or other officer, and the President at the same time held responsible for every failure or neglect. Thus have the cries and execrations of the people been raised against Sam Houston, as a traitor to the country and enemy to the frontier inhabitants. Every ridiculous calumny received countenance from the idle, the thoughtless, and the uninformed. This, though, is no more than is to be expected when a President has no patron- age to bestow, nor money to squander among a class who would be gentlemen, who have a desire to live without labor and wear fine clothes by the exercise of those who are only fi,t in their esti- mation to work and pay taxes for the safety and supp01·t of the elegant and the genteel. He must be unpopular with such inflated patriots and elegant loafers. But I hope the days of lazy gentility have passed by, and the days of hard-handed industry under the auspices of peace will soon become the fashion and secure the permanent glory and prosperity of the Republic. The last Congress appropriated about one hundred and seventy- five thousand dollars (including the appropriation for the six companies) for the entire support of the government. This fact presents a striking contrast with the appropriations which were made for the protection of the frontiers alone and placed at the disposal of my predecessor, when my term expired in December, 1838. Although the sum of $50,000 for the purpose of raising and supporting two hundred and eighty cavalry for one year on the frontier had been allowed me, (a sum not half sufficient) the Congress granted to my predecessor, by specific appropriations
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