WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1851
291
of the usual appropriation bills. I deplore the situation in which we are placed; I have not to answer for it; I have incurred no responsibility except by my recorded action in this house, and by that I am willing to stand or fall. We are not contumacious on this occasion; we have submitted to all that our opponents chose to inflict; they have threatened us with the consequences of the failure of the regular appropriation bills; but they ought not to have introduced this irregular measure, at an unfit time and in an unseemly manner, and pressed it upon us on the last two days of the session of Congress as the only measure to be acted upon. What necessity was there for such urgency? Was this to supply deficiencies of former plans? No, sir, it is a broadcast system of internal improvements, and not merely for the completion of works which have been projected. Had the bill embraced only such provisions as were necessary to complete works in progress, I would have been satisfied to vote for it with- out much examination. But when rivers of various descriptions, big and little, have been brought in, I am disposed to resist it to the very last, and I am prepared to meet the consequences of the course which I have pursued. I am perfectly satisfied upon the object of responsibility. I have no doubt the opponents of the bill have no objection to let the matter go before the nation in the worst aspect for them and the best aspect possible for the friends of the measure. The friends of this bill may obtain from the people a sanction of this extravagant plan; they may get the endorsement of the American people to this· extravagant expenditure of money; the American people may not stand in terror of a national debt; they may be willing not only to submit to the expenditure of all the revenue, but to resort to loans. They may be willing at some future day to submit to direct taxation for the purpose of completing works that may be commenced without estimate, and which must be finished; but I greatly mistake the American people if they will do this. If this bill passes, just so sure as the sun is now beneath the horizon will this nation have to extricate itself from a national debt by a process of loans and direct taxation. Do you tell me that you can convince the American people that this is right and necessary; and that in this their only felicity and safety consist? Direct taxation is the last thing to which the American people will submit. Gentlemen will find that the American people are opposed to running into debt for internal improvements, in which the nation is not interested, though
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