WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1854.,
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for the amount that I have specified, for three years. He writes to her lately that with much of his money tied up at Austin he has many difficulties. These are facts: He says he has not drawn a cent of the money; but he does not deny having drawn the certificate which was her property, and which has been retained for her three years. Sir, she is the widow of a gallant man who received injuries in Texas in Moore's unauthorized expedition to Yucatan-in- juries so deep that he lingered, and under the influence of them, he died, after having depended on her industry to sustain him whilst life lasted. He passed to the shades. She has had calamities and bereavement of widowhood upon her, and an orphan boy to sustain in a state which appeals to humanity. I did not think there was avarice greedy enough, or profligacy so wanton as to deprive a widow and orphan of their only mite. I leave it here, sir, for the present; Saturday is my day always.
1 Congressional Globe, Part III, 1853-1854, p. 1700.
ANSWERING COMMODORE E. W. MOORE, JULY 15, 1854 1 I am always reluctant, Mr. President, to occupy any portion of the time of the Senate, and especially am I so now, as that time is becoming precious; and were it not that this day seems to have been set apart for the purpose, I should hesitate to pro- ceed, particularly as the matter of which I design to speak is rather of individual than of general concernment. It is not strictly personal in its character, for it involves principles to which I think it is my duty to give my attention. It not only involves my individual action, but that of an honorable member of this body from Maryland [Mr. Pearce], who is not now present. It will be recollected, that at the last session of Congress a discussion arose on the bill for the relief of the officers of the Texas navy, during which the Senator from Maryland [Mr. Pearce] propounded a question to me, to which I responded. After the Senate had adjourned, I think it was, there appears to have been a letter addressed to that Senator,2 calling in question the correctness of his statements, and alleging that they were prej u- dicial and inconsistent with truth, respecting an individual whose name ,vas involved. I find, sir, in that letter, that my action has been called in question with the honorable Senator, and I have a remark to make in relation to that Senator, as he is not present. Neither the facts stated by him, nor his·argument in the case, were obnoxious to censure or reprehension. The gentleman's
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