103
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
of enforcing the action of a majority upon a minority, I think it very inauspicious, and particularly connected with this sub- ject. The honorable Senator from Illinois said that he had never known it to be done but that both parties thought they had acted very foolishly. I recollect that we did it, sir, in 1854 at the passage of the Nebraska bill and the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. Whether the parties ever thought that they had acted very fool- ishly or not, I do not know; but I believe that some of them have thought so since. I think that the business on which we are now engaged has perhaps resulted from that. I have no desire of making this a sequence to that night's transactions. I was a participant in them. I know all about them. I am not going to dwell on them. I am reserving that for a precious morceau before leaving these Halls, if I live. But I can see no advantage to result to us from continuing this night session. I am opposed to it. I may stay and vote, or I may pair off with a respectable gentleman; and if the vote shall be taken tonight, two respectable votes will thus be lost to the Senate. [Laughter.] I would rather that the Senate would' take into consideration what benefits could result from it, or the prejudices that might result from it. We are all in good humor now; we can go home and get our dinners, or suppers, meet in a better humor tomorrow, spend the time of the Senate profitably then, and adjourn. Therefore, with the understanding that this will be the unfinished business for tomorrow, I move that the Senate do now adjourn. Mr. Hunter. Let us take up the bill first. Mr. Houston. Well, I move to take up the bill with a view then to move to adjourn. 1 Cong1·essional Globe, Part 2, 1st Sess., 35th Cong., 1857-1858, pp. 1801- 1802. PRESENTING A PETITION OF SARAH BRASHEAR, APRIL 28, 1858t Mr. Houston presented the petition of Sarah Brashear, mother of William C. Brashear, deceased officer in the Texas navy at the time of the annexation of Texas to the United States, praying to be allowed.the benefit of the act granting five years' pay to the surviving officers of the Texas navy. It was referred to the Com- mittee on Naval Affairs.
1 Cong1·ession,al Globe, 1857-1858, Part 3, p. 1867.
Powered by FlippingBook