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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
64
large portion of the property here is exempt from taxation, because it belongs to the General Government. If the corpora- tion of Washington were privileged to collect taxes from the Government upon its property erected here according to its value, they would be very well able to defray all the contingent expenses of the corporation; but they have not this privilege, and therefore they are beaten down. They have asked for noth- ing but what was necessary for the improvement of the city; and, if the employees of the Government have been requited, and it has taken hundreds of millions to ·erect the public build- ings, that does not make the community a wealthy one, and does not show that it is able to make all the improvements essential to the city. The remedy suggested by the gentleman from Georgia, and the only one that struck me with great force, was, that we should have several hundred men of the regular army quartered in this city. Sir, I hope the youngest generations descending from us will never see a military guard in the city of Washington. It will never be here until liberty is crushed. Sir, I want no pretorian guards, no janizaries here. Give us guards of civilians; let them be alert, adroit, select men, who are capable of attending to their duty; and if it is an objection that men are selected here who are implicated in the disorders that have taken place, and have not character, appoint a responsible officer at the head, and if they are faulty, hold him accountable. But a military guard for such a purpose, I cannot agree to. What would be the character of such a guard? Of what men generally is your regular Army composed? Are they men who would be suitable guardians of the security and rights of citizens? Would they be beyond the temptations and allurments of vice, cupidity, and avarice? Are they the men to whose keeping you would be willing to confide the lives, the honor, the security-of our citizens? Would you have individuals brought from other cities for this duty, not more moral and circumspect in their conduct, or of higher-toned honor, than citizens who could be selected here? The opportunities of gratifying thievish and pilfering inclinations are greater in other States than in the city of Washington. If you bring regular troops here for this purpose, they will be composed of persons from other cities; for it is there that the regular Army is picked up; composed of persons many of whom are not citizens of the United States, and have no sympathies with us. I think the plan suggested by the honorable chairman of the Committee on the District of Columbia, who has properly matured
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