143
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
Resolved, unanimously, That the members of the Senate will attend the funeral of the deceased from the Senate Chamber, at three o'clock, P.M., tomorrow; and that the committee of arrange- ments, consisting of Messrs. Bayard, Cameron, Clay, Wade, Ham- mond, and Seward, superintend the same. O?"Clered, That the Secretary communicate these proceedings to the House of Representatives. 1 Cong1·essional Globe, 1857-1858, Part 3, p. 2717. For the resolutions, without the remarks, see Jom"nal of the Senate of the United States of A11t61-ica, 1st Sess., 35th Cong., p. 617, United States Congressional Docu- ments, Series No. 917, June 5, 1858. The Texas Republican (Marshall, Texas), July 29, 1858, comments on this document. REMARKS ON THE BILL FOR THE RELIEF OF MYRA CLARK GAINES, WIDOW OF GENERAL EDMUND P. GAINES, JUNE 7, 8, 1858 1 It seems to me that it would have better conformed to the characteristic gallantry and liberality of the Senator from Louis- iana, if he had moved to take the restriction from Mrs. Jones instead of proposing to place it on Mrs. Gaines. That would have been more conformable to my notions of liberality and gallantry, and I desire to move that amendment when I have an opportunity. I have felt, sir, that I had no right to participate in any debate of this kind. I have thought that gentlemen more competent than myself would regulate these matters; but the recollection of olden times always comes upon me when a proposi- tion is made in regard to a man who, forty years ago, shed so much luster and honor upon the arms of his country as General Gaines did in the defense of his country. Whenever I see the hem of his garment touched, or aught associated with his gallant achievements, referred to, I cannot but feel that the country owes him a debt of gratitude which money can never liquidate; and I shall cheerfully go for whatever conduces to the national acknowledgment of our obligations to him for his gallant conduct in defense of his country and the commemoration of his perfect and spotless life, his chivalry and his honor. Sir, he was the Bayard of the American Army. No man was so spotless and so gallant as Gaines on.the occasion to which I have alluded. When I think of him, it wounds me to the heart to see an effort to restrict the privileges accorded to his widow. I trust that the Senate, on this occasion, will accord to the relict of General Gaines what he could command if he were living. Sir, we have thrown bounties into the lap of others, as much as fifteen thou~and per
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