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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1858
Mr. Houston. I was very much astonished, Mr. President, at the assault made upon me by my friend from Georgia-I will not say my venerable, but I will say my juvenile friend. I admit that speaking is very unnecessary on the present occasion, and I dislike to interfere in this matter, for it is a very pretty quarrel as it stands, between those two Democratic gentlemen. [Laughter.] The Senator from Georgia says that I belong to no party. Well, sir, that is a great convenience, because there is no dissension in my party. I am perfectly accordant with myself. I heard the honorable Senator from Mississippi [Mr. Davis], yesterday, cpm- plain of a breaking up-a split among the Democracy on certain questions. I have no complaint of that kind to make in regard to my party-I am a unit. [Laughter.] I have no dissensions what- ever with myself. I try to keep my conscience as void as possible of offense, and therefore I always feel strong in the faith that I am right. But really it seems to me strange that such a violent philippic should have been delivered by the honorable Senator from Georgia against the distribution of seeds and other con- veniences to the public, and that the Senator from Missouri should talk as if it were catering for popularity on this occasion; that we were advocating the interests of the farmers or of the me- chanics. I mentioned neither farmers nor mechanics. The seeds that I have been distributing generally have not been for farming purposes, but for culinary and garden purposes. The Senator from Georgia arraigns me, too, for my gallantry to ladies, in endeavoring to contribute to their convenience and to the supply of their tables-their vegetable wants. I do not believe this is any evidence of catering on my part for popularity, for it is pretty well understood that, if I have been catering for it, I have not been so fortunate as to secure it, at least at home; and I have no aspirations upon the face of the earth at this time, in advo- cating this measure, but to contribute to the general comfort of the families of the country, whether they have votes to give or votes to withhold. I believe I would prefer sending seeds to the widows rather than to those who had husbands to procure for them these necessary vegetable conveniences. [Laughter.] I have no disposition at all to cater for popularity. This I deem a higher, holier object than that. I would not seek popularity ff I could command it or win it by bowing and cringing to popular favor or popular caprice. Sir, it should follow in my wake; it should be marshaled in my rear; I would lead its advance; I would never go cringing and bowing to obtain its smiles. I never sought popularity thus, and I never will.
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