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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1850
160
there as officers of the army, or as soldiers of the army, for both of whom I entertain the highest respect. But I imagine, sir, that their advent depended upon inducements a little apart from the ordinary inducements which lead American citizens to flock to the frontier. They drew their rations; they received their com- pensation; they had Uncle Sam to back them in everything they did. There was a fine field for speculation. They saw the ignorance of the inhabitants surrounding them; they saw what a delightful opportunity there was (or they were different from most men of my experience) for preying upon the rights of the people there; of swindling them, and defrauding them of the lands which perhaps their great sires had found the Indians in possession of; and they, forsooth, to secure those interests, and to get a gov~rnment by which they could manage these Indians easily, thought they would have a social delegate, and that they would secure the services of an influential gentleman, under the pretext of giving protection to these Indians. Yes, sir, that is about the amount of it. And yet, sir, upon this statement, the rights of Texas and perhaps of the whole Union, are to be affected by the interposition of this influential delegate. Sir, I want a government there, such a government as this Congress can give to New Mexico, and that the inhabitants thereof may be protected in all their rights, that they may not be subjected to the rapacity of speculation, or of men who would oppress them, and wrong them of their just rights. They claim a government to instruct them in their rights and to guaranty them not only to themselves but to those who may come after them. But really, sir, I cannot see how all these matters have much to do with the points of the beginning of this line of division between Texas and New Mexico. I do not think, taking into consideration the inhabitants on the Rio Grande, as far up as the thirty-fourth degree, that they would be benefitted by the location making its commencement at that point, and running to the hundredth degree of longitude; and with a full conviction that I am only doing what is right and just, and without thinking it necessary to enter into any further ex- planation about the matter, I feel it my duty to vote against the amendment of my friend from Illinois-delighted always when I can go with him-but, on this occasion, I must part company, under the full conviction that, however correct he may be in
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