WRITINGS OF SAM: HOUSTON, 1853
442
no further than merely to have a constitutional principle investi- gated and decided, the committee were competent to do that; and if he employed counsel, it was extraneous to the necessities of the case entirely, and I cannot vote for the resolution, either to cover the contingency of his attendance or for the employment of counsel. 1 Congressional Globe, and A])pendix, Part II, Special Sess., 33d Cong., 1853-1854, p. 282. A RESOLUTION, APRIL 5, 1853, TO PRINT ONE THOUSAND COPIES BARTLETT AND GRAY'S EXPLORATIONS OF THE MEXICAN BOUNDARY 1 I do not know·that the expense is a matter of any great im- portance if the information is important, and I think it is. The gentlemen referred to in the resolution are both scientific men. They have had a long time to make their observations. They have had an opportunity of digesting and putting them in the best form for presentation to the world. I think that the char- acter of the information proposed is as important as any that can come before the Senate, and there is no other opportunity of obtaining it. The American people are interested in it; and if some expense shall be the consequence of it, I do not see that that is any particular objection to it. I hope the resolution will be adopted. I would not call for the information unless I believed it of importance, and unless I was convinced that there was no other way of obtaining it. If there is another way of obtaining it, and gentlemen are satisfied that it can be obtained in a better way, I will accede to anything they propose. But if there is no other plan proposed, I shall certainly insist upon this plan, on the ground that the information is important, needful, and necessary. . . [Others speak.] I think the remarks of the honorable Senator from Virginia strengthens the position which I have taken. • He says that the Commissioner was absent from the particular duty of running the line God knows where in Mexico. I have no doubt in the world that he has collected and collated some very interesting facts which will make a very interesting work, if we had all the minutiae which he would be enabled to give. It appears to me that it more strongly urges the resolution than what I had said before. I think it very important that we should have it. [Ques- tion by Mason of Virginia.]
''
', ! ' '
I 1 ' ' I
I I Ii' I,, I
Powered by FlippingBook