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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1853
404
South. I intend no reflection on the gentlemen who command these armories when I vote to change the system. Let me tell the Senator from South Carolina that importunity at these doors never influenced me. I am warring against it. It has had too much influence, and I want to separate it from the legislation of Congress. I will vote for the proposition as it comes to us from the House,· without intending to cast any reflection upon the gen- tlemen commanding the armories. If I intended any I would avow it. As I disclaim all such intention I make no reflection. I wish these gentlemen to be assigned to their proper business in the Army. I do not see the necessity of this court of investiga- tion. It will cost the price of an armory before it is done with. Tbere are no charges against these gentlemen that I have heard of. I have not heard the first charge that either of them have been delinquent or unjust to the workmen. I go upon the prin- ciple of human nature, that let who will command the armory he must understand mankind; adapt himself to its prejudices and caprices. I have no disposition whatever to arraign any gentleman, or to cast the slightest reflection on any one; but I do say, that from an exhibit that happened to fall in my way, I have learned that the arms were, considering labor-saving, the cheapness of material, and everything of that kind, manufactured as cheap, if not cheaper, under the civil superintendence and the general direction of the Secretary of War, than they are now done under military superintendence. . . 1 Cong1·essional Globe, Apvendix, 2d Sess., 32d Cong., 1852-1853, pp. 851- 852. REMARI<:s ON THE TEXAS DEBT, AND FOR THE ISSUE OF CERTAIN CERTIFICATES OF STOCKS TO TEXAS IN PAYMENT THEREOF, MARCH· l, 1853 1 Mr. President. I wish to make this remark before the amend- ment of the senator is read. The Senator from Virginia [Mr. Mason] compels no man to receive one dollar, but giV'es the creditors the option, if they choose to receive their money at the scaled rate, to do so. That is the whole amount of it. [Several senators speak.] The $8,000,000 is the sum requisite to pay all the demands, a.ccording to their face, before the scalage took place; but as it is scaled, it is impossible for the amount, as it is scaled, to exhaust
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