WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1853
440
in the transaction of business. You will find them generous, noble, faithful, daring and chivalrous. You will find their chiefs elevated in their condition and feeling, and as chivalrous as the proudest man that adorns the annals of Christendom. I call upon you to do justice to them, and protect them. 1 Cong1·essional Globe, and A1J7Jendix, 1852-1853, Part II, pp. 1112-1115. These remarks were prompted by the bill to organize the Territory of Nebraska. Earlier, on the same day, Houston had made remarks of like substance during the debate on an Indian Appropriation Bill; which remarks precede this speech in this volume.
OPPOSING PAYMENT OF PER DIEM AND MILEAGE TO DAVID L. YULEE, MARCH 17, 1853 1
Mr. Houston. I do not desire to occupy the time of the Senate, but will take the liberty of calling for the yeas and nays on the question. I think there is no analogy between this case and the case referred to by the Senator from Arkansas, the Kentucky case. There was a division of sentiment in the Senate in relation to that case, and it was argued here by Senators. In the case of Mr. Yulee, so far as I recollect, there was no discussion in the Senate, nor any speeches made except by the contestant. I believe he convinced no one of anything except that his zeal ex- tended only to an anxiety to displace the sitting member. How- ever that was, and however zealous he might have been in the advocacy of constitutional principles, and however strong his desire might be to maintain them, I could not pretend to say; but it was very singular that the Senate should unanimously concur in the opinion that he was not entitled to a seat, and that he alone, when the facts were understood, as they must have been, should believe that he was entitled to a seat, and that the sitting member was not. Whatever expense may have accrued from the employment of counsel, Mr. President, forms no part of the consideration with me. I do not know how other gentlemen regard the system of receiving counsel before the committees in the argument of cases; but for myself, it is a system that I would not encourage. If trials are to go on in committee rooms, and the committees are to give audience to the counsel that go there for the purpose of litigating cases, there will be no end to it. I understand the gentlemen of the Senate to have sufficient capacity, especially such as constituted that committee, to arrive at sensible and just conclusions upon any subject, and to be able to make a decision as learned and sensible and just, as if they ..
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