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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
and how are you to supply the world with the materials of life, or the breadstuffs necessary to existence? When he is employed, he contributes more or less to the support of all others, besides furnishing them the reliable staff of life upon which to lean. Thus it is, Mr. President, that I am prepared to support this appropriation with constancy and unyielding will, submitting to nothing but to the voice of a majority of this House. I never will surrender the privilege of my people in this respect; for it has been adopted by gentlemen as capable of construing the Con- stitution as Senators around me are-adopted by them unchal- lenged. It has grown into a useful branch of the Government, and I am prepared to support it so long as it is useful; and I stand on this floor to advocate it as intimately connected with the general interests of the country; with the agricultural, the me- chanical, and, if you please, the professional, at least the culinary interests of the country. I believe that of all the means of dis- tributing our public money, when we have any to distribute, it is the most rational and most beneficial to the general interests of the country. 1 Congressional Globe, 1857-1858, Part 3,. pp. 2456, 2459, 2460. This was a phase of the Civil Appropriations Bill. The amendment in question pro- vided that the provision in agricultural statistics for the distribution of seeds and cuttings should be struck out; also it provided that no salary or compensation to any person for services in collecting, or distributing seeds, cuttings, and so forth, should be paid out of such appropriation.
REMARKS OPPOSING THE RECESS SYSTEM 1
May 31, 1858. Mr. Houston. I will make but a single remark on that sub- ject. I have been an observer of the course of legislation for several sessions, and I have seen this recess system, I think, effectually tried. It seems to me that the attention of the mem- bers is rarely called to a subject under debate after dinner. [Interruption.] Mr. Houston. Mr. President, I have observed that gentlemen are about the lounges and in the reception room, at evenings, after a recess has been taken and the Senate has reassembled, so that there are but a few persons attending to business. In- deed, I have often seen it when there were but three in the Hall, the President, the one that was engaged on the floor, and one other in reserve to occupy the residue of the time. I think that at evening sessions' matters are hurried through without con- sideration, and without any degree of vigilance or care. For that
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