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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1850
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or while we have a boundless domain uncultivated, and a people ready to engage in tilling and cultivating it. icongressional Globe, XXII, Part 2, p. 1843. This speech was made dur- ing the debate concerning the public lands of Oregon. REMARKS CONCERNING A CERTAIN FINANCIAL CLAIM, SEPTEMBER 23, 1850L I do not intend to detain the Senate in the transaction of business, but as I intend to vote against this amendment, I wish to state briefly the reasons for my vote. In the first place, there is no Senator in attendance here from New Mexico. There was no competent body. to elect a Senator there. When the so-called Legislature of New Mexico met for that purpose, they deposed a large portion of the representatives of the people, and aP- pointed new ones in their place. It was a self-created body, and it did not emanate from the people. That is one reason, . I think, why we ought not to encourage such transactions. In the next place, it appears that this gentleman was an officer of the army; and when he was discharged from the service, he was entitled to mileage for travelling to his place of residence, which was Washington city. He would be recompensed for traveling as a disbanded officer from New Mexico to this place; and this appropriation would be additional to the contract that was made between the Government and him when he went to New Mexico. I can see no reason in favor of this amendment, but every possible reason against it. If we wish to encouage irregularities, and the payment of self-created officers and emisaries, we will never terminate, but will continually advance the claims against the Government. For these reasons I shall vote against the amendment. I am aware that this gentleman has not been in the service within twelve months. It is not material at what time he left the army. He was entitled to transportation to his usual place of residence; and he was not discharged until he had time to reach that place. Unless this gentleman is a Senator, or unless there is some prospect of his being inducted as one, I cannot see any propriety in advancing him this amount of money. [Later in the debate on the same subject.] I am reluctant to say anything, because I know the importance of time in the Senate; but other gentlemen have felt no com- punction on the subject; and on some 'occasions I have availed
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