The Writings of Sam Houston, Volume VII

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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858

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separation from the mother country, have so far resulted in failure, and consequent anarchy, and demonstrated to the world the inability of said people to effect an object so desirable and so indispensable to their welfare and prosperity: Therefore, Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Relations be in- structed to inquire into and report to the Senate upon the ex- pediency of the government of the United States declaring and maintaining an efficient protectorate over the States of Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and San Salvador, in such form and to such extent as shall be necessary to secure to the people of said States the blessings of good and stable republican government. 1Jo1m1al of the Senate of the United States of America, 1st Sess., 34th Cong., Ser. No. 917, p. 189. February 16, 1858. Congressional Globe, 1857- 1858, Part 1, p. 716. Thanks to Mr. Winkler. REMARKS CONCERNING THE PRINTING OF PATENT OFFICE REPORTS, MARCH 11, 1858 1 I am very sorry to disagree with my friend from Georgia [Mr. Iverson] ; but I can suggest an expedient that will relieve the local postoffice from the incumbrance of those documents. It has been my habit to distribute them here direct, and to send them in parcels to the State of Texas. I do not rely on their being sent to me at my home, where I am surrounded by the cares of my business, to distribute them. It would be inconvenient for me there; but here, it is very convenient, if they are sent to the various members in their quarters, to distribute them, and they go directly to the different persons to whom they are specifically directed. I have received from the remotest parts of Texas, bordering on the Rio Grande, acknowledgments of the receipt of the.Patent Office report for the last year-either the agricultural portion of it, or the mechanical portion; and almost invariably where one of these reports has been sent, they write for the other part. My constituents urge it as one of the most important works printed by Congress. I have never sent a book without receiving in return a direct acknowledgment, and a solicitation for ot_her copies of these reports by other persons who are cognizant of the receipt of them by some friend. I deem it one of the most important matters in the action of Congress that these books shall be distributed throughout the whole country. The people are gratified with them. They find them greatly useful. Not a

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