271
WRITINGS OF 5A:M HOUSTON, 1844
the revenue laws of this Republic, he will discharge a cannon so that the ball will strike the water at least fifty yards ahead of the vessel; and should any vessel or craft, after such admonition, being given, persist in a disregard of the laws, the collector will forthwith fire into, and, if nece88ary, sink it. If we were not to exercise this 1·ig-ht on the waters of the Sabine, and ascertain the character of vessels before they penetrate into the interior of our country, the enemy might at any time enter with its fleet or transports and land troops upon our eastern borders. No vessel will be permitted to receive cotton from Texas, or from the Texas shore, and carry off the same, which has not made due report at our Custom house, and paid tonnage duties according to law. It will be the duty of the collector to bring it to, and not permit any vessel to pass out, unless it has a clearance from some port in the United States. All vessels which may hereafter enter the Sabine pass, not having a regular and legal clearance on board, no matter of what nation, will be proceeded against by the coJlector as smugglers, and their cargoes forfeited. If the collector of the port of Sabine were not authorized to hail and bring to all the vessels passing up the waters thereof, requir- ing the exhibit of clearance and manifest, not only smuggling could be carried on to a pernicious extent, but even piracy would not be subject to detection; and our bays and harbors might soon give shelter to pirates who are engaged in the African slave trade, of buccaneers who live upon the spoils of the ocean. The Attorney General is not here, and I have had but little time to look into this subject since it has been referred to me; but I am satisfied of the correctness of every position. My instruc- tions may not be technically accurate; nor is it material, if they embrace the main object. All vessels which may be cleared in U. S. ports or carrying property only of the same, which may show by their papers that it is shipJ?ed for ports in the U. States, will so soon as the exhibit of the papers is made, be permitted to pass unmolested. Sam Houston. 1 Exec.11tive Record Book, No. 40, p. 341, Texas Stnte Library. See Volume III, 197.
Powered by FlippingBook