WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1858
14-8
Houston did not present the application, nor did he take any part in the debate, until Toombs, of Georgia, who was sponsoring the claims of Mrs. A. M. Jones, involved Mrs. Gaines's application with that of Mrs. Jones, in order that Mrs. Jones's pension might be augmented through association with that of Mrs. Gaines's claim to a larger pension. The Senator from Louisiana, collaborating with Toombs, offered an amendment to the effect that both women be granted pensions in the fixed amount of $50. This called forth Houston's remarks of June 7, 1858. But the amendment passed. The members of the Senate were still not satisfied with the facts concern• ing the pension of Mrs. Jones, so the debate was renewed on June 8, at which time Toombs and his collaborators attempted to debate the question facetiously, charging Houston with more than extraordinary zeal in his championship of all lady petitioners. To these teasing remarks, Houston made his remarks of June 8. Toombs and his collaborators won the debate, and Mrs. Gaines and Mrs. Jones were both given pensions of $50 per month; however, Mrs. Gaines's pension was dated to begin in 1849, at the time of her husband's death. AN AMENDMENT OFFERED TO PAY TEXAS FOR RANGING SERVICE, JUNE 8, 1858 1 Mr. President, I have an amendment to offer: Sec.-And be it further enactecl, That there be appropriated, 'Out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $75,426.30, to refund that amount paid by the State of Texas, for ranging service, which was expended for the pro- tection of the frontier; and that the further amount of $12,518.12, which has been liquidated and is yet due to the claimants, be, and is hereby, appropriated. [Senators objected that the amendment was out of order.] Mr. Houston. I will explain it. I occupy very little time of the Senate on these bills, though I have a speech of about three hours length that I shall deliver on some occasion. It is strange that I cannot be permitted to explain a matter of importance to my State, I being here alone, wearied out with watching, and yet occupying no time of the Senate. Whenever I rise to offer an important amendment affecting the rights of my State, and endeavoring to obtain an appropriation to refund money that she has already paid out of her treasury to defend her frontier, if that degree of patience necessary to hear me while I explain the matter is not accorded to me, then, I had better leave the Senate. The Presiding Officer. The Senator is out of order. Mr. Houston. I was in order, Mr. President.
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