WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843 393 for frontier and national defence for one year alone, no less than one million four hundred thousand dollars, besides appropria- tions for the organization of the militia and other purposes without limit.- In addition to this, my predecessor was author- ized to raise and employ in service a· force of 1800 troops, besides any number of friendly Indians which he might think proper. This, too, was at a time when comparative peace existed with Mexico and the Indians, and commerce was carried on with the inhabitants of the Rio Grande. The present administration has had only $20,000 and when it commenced the nation had not a dollar-was twelve million in debt-without mails, with war on our entire frontier-our brave citizens taken prisoners at Santa Fe-our navy abroad in foreign service-the nation without cur- rency, credit, or character abroad, and at home all confidence destroyed between man and man, and the people and the govern- ment. I could cite other facts and circumstances which were thrown in the way of the President, that would satisfy every reasonable mind that the present and past troubles of the country have not been produced by him. If the frontier has not been protected he had not the means and Congress would not afford them to him; and when they have been afforded for that purpose, they have been placed beyond his reach and in other hands. Yet he has been held responsible! Not withstanding all these hindrances, if I am supported in the discharge of my duty by the people and their representatives, I am satisfied that Texas will, in a short time, enjoy the blessings of peace, when, I trust, the object and wishes of those who are traducing my character and actions, and who rather than fail in the destruction of the man they hate, would be willing to sacri- fice their country's best interests, will be properly appreciated. Unfortunately the most noisy have but little interest to save or lose! At any rate, they shall not deter me from pursuing that course of conduct which I have pursued in Texas for the last ten years. My countrymen will enjoy the benefits of it at some future day, by being free, happy and independent. This period will not be distant, unless the object should be defeated by the impatience and misconduct of our own citizens. I will do my best to accom- plish the salvation of Texas. SAM HOUSTON. 1 Mille1· Pape1·s, Texas State Library. The Red-Lander, August 5, 18-13. ~Nathaniel Lewis was, in 1836, a merchant at San Antonio. When the Mexicans entered the town, February 23, 1836, he and several others fled to
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