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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
417
section of land to every actual settler who would reside upon and cultivate the same for two years, draw to our frontier a host of hardy pioneers, who would not only be able to resist the en- croachments of the Indians, but soon acquire strength sufficient to intimidate them. If this plan were adopted, and a force of Texas ~angers, authorized by the United States, kept actively scouting in our territory beyond the settlements, we would cease to hear of those calamities which· now continually shock our ears. Thus our frontier could be gradually extended, the lives of our citizens spared, and a vast amount of money necessary to protect the present scattered settlements saved to the Treasury. The alternate quarter sections reserved would be increased in value from the occupancy of the settler, while he would be bene- fited by receiving the land at the bare cost of the fee of patenting and surveying. I believe that the policy of giving land to actual settlers is a good one, but we should at the same time endeavor to make our settlements compact, and should also confine our donation policy alone to the settler and his immediate heirs, and not extend it to his assignees. As one means of replenishing our exhausted Treasury I would commend the immediate sale of all lands which shall be found to be forfeited to the State for non-payment of taxes; and such legislation should be adopted as will induce the purchase of these lands, and give security to the titles made to the same. A rigid system for the collection of taxes is necessary, so that all branches of business and all classes of property-holders may pay their proportion toward bearing the expenses of government. Some means should also be adopted by which the various asses- sors and collectors of the State would be able to secure the pay- ment of proper taxes upon lands owned out of their respective counties. It is a notorious fact that but few of the lands upon which taxes are paid in counties distant from their location, afford the State an equitable revenue. While it is not fair that parties should be compelled to pay their taxes on lands in the counties in which the lands lie, it is no more than just that the State should provide some standard for their valuation, where they are not so paid. I can not too earnestly press upon the Legislature the neces- sity for economy in reference to the public lands. They are now all that we may draw upon for the education of the people and development of our resources. Every citizen of Texas has an interest in the public domain, and the representatives of the people should regard it as their duty to refuse to squander
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