WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
469
Executive recommends as the most efficient means of performing this duty, the entire exclusion of the bills of all foreign banks. The Congress has the undoubted right of inhibiting, by law, counterfeiting and the passing of counterfeit paper; and they have equally clearly the power to inhibit the introduction and circulation of all valueless foreign bank issues, or those liable to become so in the hands of our citizens. In connection with this, I would also recommend the prohibition and suppression by statute of every description of paper in the character of bank, individual or corporation notes issued within the Republic and intended or used for circulation, as currency. If the Honorable Congress should concur in the adoption of this measure, the Executive is convinced by experience that it would go far to sustain the national currency, and better enable the government to furnish a circulating medium. The defects in the system now in force for the collection of the revenues, are of such a magnitude as to require the particular attention of the Honorable Congress. The reliance heretofore placed upon the collection of the direct taxes for the purposes of government has, under the existing system, proved almost wholly fallacious. That the government must be supported, and that those who render service to it must be remunerated, all, who have an abiding interest in the country, will admit. To ensure efficient government, or even to supply its absolute wants, some system must be devised which will secure the prompt and faithful collection of the revenues provided by law. Hitherto, in many parts of the country, the most flagrant dereliction of duty has occurred on the part of collectors of direct taxes. In several instances, sheriffs have failed and refused to give bond for the faithful performance of their duties and for the payment to the government of the public moneys received by them. In this way, there can be no longer any doubt, the gcvernment has been deprived of the reveriues paid by the people for its support; which have been used by unfaithful agents for purposes of specu- lation and private emolument. It is believed that this state of things arises, in a great degree, from the mode of selecting the collectors of the revenue. Our sheriffs are elected by the people, and, as a consequence, not readily controlled, except through the same tardy and uncertain medium. The control of the Treasury Department in the col- lection of the taxes, is thus almost totally destroyed. Were the
Powered by FlippingBook