The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920 Page: 236
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Southwestern Historical Quarterly and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Texas State Historical Association.
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236 The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
tion, to make them, equal to the important work which is to be
achieved. In their present condition, they can be regarded only
as the foundation of a fund, which, by judicious measures, and
well digested plans of operation, may be husbanded and increased
until it shall be amply sufficient for all the purposes intended;
but, without such measures, it may be frittered away in useless
experiments, or swallowed up in the prosecution of visionary
schemes, which can result in no permanent good to the country.
It is, therefore, my deliberate opinion that if no other advantage
was expected to be derived from the establishment of a bureau of
education, than such as would result from a judicious manage-
ment of its funds, that advantage alone would be sufficient to
justify the expenses required for the support of such a bureau.
One advantage of this would be a uniform system in the schools
and universities, which would maintain "the sacred principles of
free institutions." If despotic systems could maintain themselves
by a system of national education, he asked, why could not a
representative republic? He would say to the government, "Open
wide the doors of knowledge, but keep the key of the temple.""
II. Finances
From the beginning to the end of the existence of Texas as an
independent republic, the most serious problems confronted by
her statesmen were in raising revenue and providing for the finan-
cial administration. With little money except that contributed
by friends in the United States, she became independent in 1836,
just before the panic of 1837 swept over the United States and
brought about a failure of that source of funds during the trying
days when the people of Texas were attempting to establish their
government. In the absence of specie, many expedients were tried
to provide funds for the government and as a circulating medium
for trade. A moderate tariff on imports, an unenforced and un-
enforceable direct tax, and a foreign loan were tried, and, these
all failing to supply funds, the printing presses were put to work
turning out paper money which depreciated as soon as issued.
When Lamar assumed the presidency in December, 1838, he found
all these methods of raising money in use.
By the ordinance creating the provisional government, passed
by the Consultation, November 13, 1835, power was granted to
"Telegraph and Texas Register, November 27, 1839.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920, periodical, 1920; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101075/m1/242/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.