357
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1852
not repudiated any of her liabilities. She has arranged that by her municipal 1·egulations. She had a right to do that. She made several pledges of her revenue for different issues. But she made no special grant or pledge of the revenue arising from imports except for the redemption of her loans. She might appropriate that especially, and she might receive in consideration of the duties what she pleased; and it would not affect the pledges given. She is competent to regulate her own matters, and we will reserve that power let the United States take what action they please. All that I have to say on this question is, that I regret ex- tremely, that after a session of eight months, this is brought in as a subject of discussion before the Senate within the last nights of the session. Texas would have been prepared, and her repre- sentatives in the Senate would have been prepared to have taken the part which behooved them. We do not want to interfere with the United States. We wish only to mantain the fair con- struction of the laws of Texas, and her liabilities to her creditors. 1 Congressional Globe, Part III, 1st Sess., 32d Cong., 1851-1852, pp. 2380, 2381. REMARKS ON A BILL FOR PAYMENT OF PUBLIC PRINTING, AUGUST 27, 1852 1 Mr. Houston. It is with great reluctance that I address the Senate on this occasion; but it does seem to me that a very curious course has been taken by the opponents of this amend- ment. If I understand the Senator from Maryland, he says that he has information that a large amount of money, perhaps :;il00,000 was realized by Mr. Ritchie while he had the printing for Congress. If suggestions of this kind are to be taken for con- clusions, it is not the way I wish to be enlightened on subjects upon which I am to act. If I believed-notwithstanding that Mr. Ritchie is a Democrat-that he was not justly entitled to the amount that it is here contemplated to give to him, I would cer- tainly oppose it as soon as I would if he were a Whig. In administering justice and recompense to persons who have deserved the public confidence, or who have rendered services to the public, I do not ask of what political faith or profession they are, nor am I ready to receive or give credence to reports that may be in circulation as to the amount of money they may have realized. There is sufficient in this case to satisfy my mind
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