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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1826
30
to what he possessed; and, as he did not wish to be inferior in knowledge on the subject of this mission, he was not less anxious than other gentlemen to be in possession of all the information in possession of the Executive on the subject. But he wished it to be presented in a proper form, and to come when it was neces- sary. If it was not necessary on an earlier day, we have now no call for the performance of official duty, that we had not then. When that call was made, he would himself press the call for the information which had not been submitted to them, and which was necessary on the subject. The gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Livingston), had said, let us determine now, if such is our disposition; that we will make no appropriation when this subject comes before us. Mr. H. was not prepared to say that _he would make no appropriation; he was not, he thought, called on at this time for the expression of any such sentiment. There had been no call on this House for an appropriation. And, when that call was made, then would be the proper time to determine whether they would grant it or not. But he did not consider the question now essentially in- volved. When the application for an appropriation was made, it would then be their duty to act: it was not so now ; and, inasmuch as it was not, he did not at this time, feel disposed to vote for a call for information till he found that call necessary. Convince him of the necessity of that call, and he would unite, with much pleasure, in demanding it; but, if they were to have the information, let them have all that was connected with the subject, that they might know what grounds they were to act upon. The subject, he thought, could not be properly determined by this House without other data than what they now possessed. We have been told, said Mr. H., that an invitation had been given to us, by the South American Republics, to send Ministers to the Congress of Panama, and that an assurance had been re- turned that Ministers would be sent. This was a gratuitous as- surance, and must have been predicated on the belief that the concurrence of the co-ordinate branches of the Government would be certain: for he could not think that the P1~esident alone had any right to send these Commissioners, without the concurrence of the Senate. Could the gentlemen think that the Senate would have nothing to do but to confirm? That the President was the organ by which the whole nation was to speak; that what he said must be abided by; and that the Senate had no power to determine whether or no they would concur in this nomination?
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