WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1854
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as the best measure that the Senate could get. This is all that I have in my recollection at this time, and if it is improper, every one who participated in a combination or caucus upon it, for the purpose of commending it as a measure for the adoption of the Senate, was reflected upon, and his motives impugned-mine, and those of every other Senator who would have gone into a caucus of the kind. I cast no reflections upon the Senator from Delaware, beyond those which he cast upon others. [Mr. Hunter declared that he knew of no caucus.] I am very sure there never was, or I presume I should have heard of it, because I have expressed my opinion as favorable to it. I have never impugned any gentleman's motives. I have had heated debates here. I have had very strong impulsive feelings, and I have felt resentment at what I thought oppression in the Senate, but I have never called motives, or the propriety of a member's conduct in question. There is one remark which I must take back. In alluding to one of the Senators from Virginia [Mr. Mason] I unfortunately called him the senior Senator. That was very improper. I take it back. I leave the subject where it is, not choosing to repeat anything that I have already said; and all that I have to say to the Senator from Delaware is, that any reflection in my remarks in relation to him, I think, does not go so far as he had gone in reference to me and others who support this bill. 1 Congressional Globe, Appendix, 1853-1854, pp. 1103, 1107, 1109, 1118, 1119. The bill under debate was "to grant a homestead of 160 acres of public land to actual settlers." It was first presented on February 7th, but actual debate was delayed until early July. Senator James M. Mason, of Virginia, offered an amendment: "Provided the act shall not apply to lands Northwest of the Ohio river, ceded to the United States by Virginia in 1783, etc." See Cong1·essional Globe, p. 1097. The amendment proposed by Albert G. Brown, of Mississippi, is long and detailed. It concerned the granting of preemption to actual settlers of the public lands and to extend this p1·eemption to all the Territorfos of the United States for ten years without any kind of payment for land itself, but subjecting the preemptor to payment of taxes as if holding the land in fee simple. It also provided for the succession of the preemptor's heirs in case of his death. See pp. 1100-1101. It was voted down. The amendment on which Houston based the greater part of his remarks was presented by John Bell, of Tennessee: "Every free white citizen of the United States, head of a family and not a freeholder, or owner of leasehold estate of the value of $200, and who does not wish to migrate, or who does not have the means of removing his family, shall be entitled to a certificate to be issued by the Commissioner General of the General Land Office under the regulations established by the Secretary of the Interior, which certificate giving him the right to occupy
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