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'' RITII'>GS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1857
If he went without the usual guarantees-he being a man of intelligence, he knew that the general had no power to bind the Government-.it only shows the loftiness of his patriotism. It shows that he said, "I can serve my country, and if perishing will give peace to it, I will take my life into my hands; I will trust to the justice and generosity of my country; I am willing to die a victim." Sir, can you estimate such service by pecuniary estimation? Never, I hope, will it be done in this Hall of legis- lation. The honorable and venerable Senator from Missouri [Mr. Dodge] has given attestation of the facts so impressive of that day, that they yet remain upon his memory, it holding tenacious impression of them from the trying crisis in which Hardin was sacrificed. Sir, I would vote the last farthing that is asked, and I hope that I shall never stand up here and be unable to do jus- tice to those who have claims for patriotic service for their country. 1 Congl"essio11al Globe, Part 1, 1856-1857, pp. 626-626. The claim was for $1,879.96, that being the claim for the amount due to the heirs under the agreement between Wilkinson and Hardin. In about the year 1792, General Wilkinson employed John Hardin to go on a dangerous mission to the Indians, Wilkinson promising Hardin a guinea a day during his absence, and if he perished that his widow should receive $200 per year during her life. Hardin died while on the mission. In 1793, Congrss not knowing of the contract between Wilkinson and Hardin, passed an act granting $450 per year for seven years, to the widow and children of John Hardin. This relief lasted down to 1800, after which time no provision was made for Mrs. Hardin. The bill discussed by Houston ·proposed to give her descendants $200 per year for the time she lived after 1800. The question in debate was whether or not Congress would recognize the trade between Wilkinson and Hardin as valid, since at the time the agreement was made, Wilkinson was at the head of the United States Army. REMARKS CONCERNING THE COUNTING OF THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTES, FEBRUARY 11, 1857 1 Mr. President, I am very reluctant to occupy any portion of the Senate's time. It seems to me that there is really no ground for discussion. In the first place, I believe that the Presiding Officer discharged correctly the constitutional and lawful duty assigned to him while this body was in the Hall of the Houge of Representatives. He was bound to open, in the presence of the two houses, the electoral votes which he had receiYed. The lnw vested him with no discretionary power to decide as to the \'alidity and legality of those votes.
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