Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1860-02-08

u already provides Tor the education contemplate,
ny the Constitution, ana IL this amount, thu
ly unnecessarily withdrawn lrcm the general fund
70 Will redu.a the hurthens of taxation, the peop
O. will be better able in the future to hear taxation
'e to support University il one should be deeme,
)i necessary.
,, have long regarded our present land system
Is detective; and believe, with the ffaners Of the
10 Constitution of our Republic, that our public
o domain should be sectionized, The Federal Gov.
q ernmcnt has adopted this system with reference
,, 10 Its public lands and all of the difficulties that
d surround our titles, ara ohyiated We cannot
: redeem the past hut we can provide for the fu.
4 ture u all of our puddle domain were surveyed
q hy competent persons, who would be willing to
9 tako II portion of our lands us compensation for
;, their labor it would greatly facilitate the settle.
u mrnt of the country, and give security to our
n land operations. IL would also furnish some ,ia-
: tn upon which TO base conclusions. rs TO the val
z ue of our lands, and, If accompanied by the re-
searches Of Geological ana Agricultural Bureau
}, would vastly tend towards the development Of the
y Resources of our State. Our lands. if divided
Z, into sections, half and quarter sections, would
@ meet ready sale whereas, at present. the diff
' Guilty attending our titles, makes many persons
10th to file their certificates, lest they may
llict with private locations; hut if their mcteS
and bounds were declared hy tho State none of
this apprehension would exist.
| believe that the policy of extending our from.
tier too rapidly, has already resulted in great
loss of life, owing to the sparse settlements being
an easy prey to the savages. IL Il base line were
run at the extreme edge of our present settle
ments, and the territory beyond Withdrawn from
location and settlement. we could then, by lib.
eral policy, which would give an alternate quar-
ter section of land to every actual settler who
would reside upon and cultivate the same for two
years, draw to our frontier host oil hardy pio-
neers, who would not only he able to resist the
encroachments of the Indians, but would soon
acquire sufficient strength to intimidate them
If this plan were adopted, and a force of Texas
Rangers, authorized by the United States, kept
actively scouting in our territory beyond tho set
Elements, we would cease t, hear of those calum |
tiles which now continually shock our ears Thus
our frontier could be gradually extended, the
lives of our citizens spared, and vast amount
of money necessary to protect the present scat
tccrcd settlements, saved to the Treasury The
alternate quarter section reserved would he in
cr cased in value from the occupancy OF the set
tier, while he would be benefited by receiving the
lands Mt the bare cost Of the fees Of patentinS
and surveying
| believe that the policy Of giving land to actual
settlers is good one but we shoulda the same
time cndcavor to make our settlements compact :
and should also coufne 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, would commend the Immediate sale
IF all lands which shall be found tO DO forfeited
to the State for nOn-payment Of taxes; and such
legislation should be adopted MS will induce the
purchase Of these lands and give security to the
titles made to the same.
4 rigid ayslem for tho collecting of taxes, is
necessary that al branches Of business and all
classes Of property holders may pay their due
portion towards bearing the expenses Of the Coy
ornment Some means should also be adopted by
which the yaEious Assessors and Collectors Of the ,
State would be able to secure the payment Of
proper taxes upon lands owned out of their re- q
spective counties. 1t is notorious fact that but O
few of the lands upon which taxes are paid in q
counties distant from their location, afford the ,
State an equitable revenue. While it is not fair
that companies should be compelled to pay their {
taxes on lands in counties in which the lands lie,
it is no more than just that the State should pro-
vide some standard of valuation, where they are |
not so paid. t.s.
l cannot too earnestly press upon the Legisla- q
turc the necessity for economy in reference to the
public lands. They are now all we may draw a
upon for the education of the people and the de- o
vclopment Of our resources. Every citizen OF c
Texas has an interest in the public domain, and il
the representatives of the people should regard i
it their duty to refuse to squander them in prof
ligate schemes, or to meet the ends of special t
legislation. c
The Executive would also suggest some change S
in the mode of collecting the revenue. The t
amount of labor required at the hands of Asses n
sors and Collectors, when compared with the
they receive, is so great, that but
few men of competent business talent can be in n
duced to accept the office The Legislature b
should in my opinion, 80 amend the revenue laws 81
rs to secure the services of responsible men, who ri
cannot be imposed upon. The task of visiting u
l,, n,k inn
the valuation Of his property, is arduous, andl is
is in but few counties that the officer is even fea p
sonably paid for his labor. aa st
The several railroad charters passed since my IL
induction into Office, have met my approval u
Their terms are explicit and in accordance with o.
The general railroad law of the State. NO char u
Ter will receive may assent which does not con-
ain those proper guards against fraud, lmposi- Ia
ion and reckless speculation, which are ut once IN
necessary to guard the interests OF the o.ate VI =.
md the pockets of the people. Corporations ..
,avo so often tramped upon the rights private a.
.tizens, that we shoul be careful when we grant u
hem privileges, that we part with no right DC
oneing to the people. The State has already tf
,een generous and her generosity has in several 81
ases been abused. We yet afford to be gen Is Is
rous in railroad policy, but we should mage 81 81
uch terms as will secure every interest TO De az VI
ected. 1t will be my endeavor to exact at the ze
ands of every railroad company in the State, 10
trict compliance with the terms OF its charter u.
he benefits conferred are great and the terms ne
nade by the State SO easy that there is but little tn
oom for excuse in case of failure to comply OF OF
With the law. ......, 70
The improvement of our rivers under the act ri,
f Aug LIST 1856, will receive that attention at M
" hands which the Importance of the suoJee' th
emands. To many sections OF the country, all
hese natural means of transportation are y, an
reat utility. 1t will be my endeavor to appoint
ractica men, acquainted with the nature "a ., Va of
ivers, to superintend their improvement ana re- IN
ort uren the manner in which contractors have 80 80
erformed their duty tb
can see but little utility in the Office of State to
of railrnal