119
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
[Later] I do not know that I shall wish to say anything on this improvement; but if so, I should like to understand it better than I did when I made my remarks before. I am satis- fied that it is inexpedient to make the appropriation, and that the best way it could be applied would be to take the money and throw it over this raft, and set the people to digging for it there. They might by that means get it out; but if you let one contractor, or a dozen contractors, have it, you will never get the work done. Put the money on the raft, and people will get it, and in getting the money, they will remove the obstacle, and in that way the river will be opened, otherwise it will never be opened. Now I move that the Senate adjourn, and I will finish tomorrow. [Mr. Seward called for the yeas and nays, and they were ordered; and, being taken, resulted-yeas 22, nays 27, as fol- lows: (Names given.)] So the Senate refused to adjourn. Mr. Houston. It is unusually late, and I really can see no particular urgency for the passage of this measure now. I think we should expedite business as much by adjourning at the usual hour, and corning here refreshed in the morning, instead of coming half exhausted, having our official business to transact and our correspondence to maintain after we return from the Senate and get some refreshment. I am not in the habit of taking a lunch here; I wish that understood. I think we might get along as well by adjourning now. This is said to be a measure of peculiar and of great advantage to a lovely fP.ction of country, most desirable for occupation, with every fine prospect possible for the completion of the work at an early day, and a wise investment of the sum proposed to be appro- priated, $110,000. Let me read an extract from the intelligent report of the Secretary of War: [He read a quotation.]
1 Congressional Globe, Appendix, 1857-1858, p. 477. The Red Riv.er Region was simply one phase of the bill for Internal Improvements.
CONCERNING THE PURCHASE OF THE HOLMES LIFE BOAT FOR LIFE-SAVING STATIONS, MAY 28, 1858 1 A selection is to be made of the best life-boat which can be obtained for security of life. For my own part, without investi- gating the subject, I am disposed to defer very much to the opinion of the Committee who have had the matter before them; and I am ready to sanction their judgment. I wish to burden the
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