WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1853
407
without warrant or appropriation by Congress, upon his in- dividual responsibility. The arms of the Republic, and all its means of defense were taken, and it was left without one keg of powder. Upon that unfortunate expedition, which was totally without authority of law, this young man went. He joined it from motives of chivalry and gallant bearing, which I commend. The expedition itself, however, was unprofitable to Texas. If he was incarcerated in the prisons of Mexico, it was not by the contrivance of the Texan authorities, but it was by a lawless usurpation of power, which would have incurred punishment, if the individual had been worthy of being punished; but as he was not, we excused him, and let his tears wash away his sins. We are further told that his young man now fills a bloody grave, leaving it to be inferred that it is in Texas; and that the father, therefore, in his demand against Texas, claims the sympathy, the commiseration, and the kind feelings, of every one, and the gratitude of Texas. Sir, that young man un- fortunately fell in a civil broil in Louisiana, on the banks of the Mississippi, hundreds of miles away from Texas. Yet this was hrought up as one of the charges against Texas, that she had not only cheated the father, but had brought the son to a bloody grave, and thus aggravated the enormous offense of swindling him. But let him go to the poor men from the hard earnings of whose hands his tempting funds were wrung. He obtained them at a depreciated price, and funded them at the Treasury, no doubt expecting to reap a handsome advance upon them. Sir, Texas has been just, and she will be just. You need exercise no supervision over her justice. "Ju.c,tice" has been her motto; and, while she wears that motto she will always have "right" written beside it... Mr. Houston. Mr. President, that it has never been the in- tention or the desire of Texas to escape the payment of her true liability is true. It has not been through her agency that the applfoation has been made for the amendment introduced by the
honorable Senator from Virginia. Mr. Pratt. I did not say it was.
Mr. Houston. I have this remark to make to the honorable Senator; that the debts to the value of what Texas received which are now held by the owners will be paid. We eschew speculators. None of them were found in the day of Texas' need. They acquired the bonds after they were scaled to a large amount
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