WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1844
525
situation as would make the proceeds thereof a guaranty for the redemption of the currency then created. But Congress has thought proper not to ·take the requisite action for this object, and the lands have consequently remained unavailable up to the present time. It is true that an act was passed on the 23d July, one thousand eight hundred and forty two, authorizing the survey and sale, under certain restrictions of four hundred thousand acres. 2 But the President, having no available means at his com- mand, has been unable to carry out the provisions of both these acts. When the law of one thousand eight hundred and forty was passed, the country in question had but few, if any, inhabitants within its limits. Since that time it has been organised into a county, and now contains several hundred occupant families. At the ·time this subject was first brought to the attention of Congress, there appeared to be no impediment to the execution of the law, and the friends of the measure confidently believed at that time that the proceeds arising from sales, would amount to many millions, and be sufficient to pay off the national debt then existing. After that time, the national liabilities increased rapidly. The pecuniary pressure, also, in the United States as well as Texas became greater and our lands depreciated in value; and no action being taken to carry out the law, persons migrated and settled within the reserved territory. This emigration and settlement continued to increase with each successive year; so that at the period the last law was passed in reference to it, even had there been within the control of the Executive the pecuniary means for surveying it, he was fully assured a military force would be necessary to give protection to the surveyors. To have done this, would have required means for the support of the troops while in the field, and to have suppressed insurrection would have required laws which did not exist. Now, since the population has increased to respectability in numbers and the people may think they have acquired a right to the soil by occupancy, it appears to the Executive that the circum- stances and reasons which originally induced the enactments of Congress referred to, connected with the difficulties and em- barrassments which have arisen since that time, have multiplied the obstacles to the realization of the hopes which the go\'ern- ment at one period entertained of rendering the sale of these lands a source of revenue and advantage to the Republic.
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