Texas in 1850. By Melinda Rankin. Page: 63 of 196

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TEXAS IN 1850.

tion, her rivers improved to ensure safe and successful
navigation, railroads constructed to facilitate inland commerce,
and the country, towns and cities teeming with
population. Can it be predicted with equal certainty,
that a comparative improvement in intelligence and virtue
will take place ? In this subject is concentrated
the country's hope. Knowledge and goodness must
fix their altars on every pinnacle of fame to perpetuate
its existence.
To make Texas what she should be, those quicksands,
which have always operated to subvert the well being
of society, must be shunned, and those principles cultivated
that have ever proven a foundation for prosperity,
and a safeguard and defence against all the dangers and
difficulties to which a country may be exposed.
The population of Texas is, to an extent, yet to be
made up, and of their character, who can decide ? A
heterogeneous mass, from every source, of all ranks and
conditions, are in a measure to form her future citizens.
Though many worthy and meritorious characters are,
and will be, found among so great an emigration as has
been and will be to this country, yet it cannot reasonably
be expected that all are valuable members of society
which emigrate. In all extensive emigrations which
have hitherto been in any part of the world, fit has not
unfrequently been the case that the poor, distressed,
overwhelmed with calamities and misfortunes from vice
and imprudence, have formed a considerable part.
In influx of strangers and foreigners of every grade
and class is dangerous to the well being of society, espe