WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
516
some disposition of them, there was certainly no use in sending them to me; and the only course left to me was to submit them to the Senate. I did so, without expressing any opinion, or giving any intimation, as to the guilt or innocence of the accused. The article in the official paper, to which I have alluded, says, "In presenting these resolutions in the Senate, Mr. Houston must have misapprehended their purport. Under the Constitution, the Senate is the body to try an impeachment when one is pre- ferred by the House of Representatives." That I was fully aware of. "In this instance the Legislature of Texas did not instruct their Senator to seek to have the charges against Judge Watrous investi- gated, or to do anything else inconsistent with the delicacy of his position as the contingent judicial trier of the accused." Did I do anything derogatory to my position, as one of the triers of the accused, in simply discharging the duty of present- ing the resolutions to the Senate of the United States without expressing any opinion as to his guilt or innocence? I think not. The article continues: "They requested their Representatives in Congress to use their exertions to have these accusations investigated during the pres- ent session, 'without intending to express any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of Judge John C. Watrous,' in the very words of their resolutions." I cannot see that it was necessary to call in question, and bring before the notice of the public, an act performed by me, in the discharge of my official duty in this body, as if I had done any- thing that could prejudice the individual to whom the resolutions refer. I think that I acted with propriety and with delicacy. The subject is an important one, and the people of Texas desire to have it determined. I know not that this officer has been guilty of any offense, nor have I charged him with any; but the subject has caused excitement and agitation in Texas for the last ten years. It has claimed the attention of the Legislature of that State, and is of impressive interest to her people. At the recent session of the Legislature, when one House was about acting on the subject, the accused addressed a letter to that body, expressing his desire to have an investigation; and therefore, if, by present- ing these resolutions, I sought to give forwardness to the investi- gation, I was only acting in accordance with the wishes of the Legislature, and the views of the accused, as submitted to that body.
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