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WRITINGS OF SA:t-.I HOUSTON, 1858
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by excepting from the publication the remarks which I made iI1 announcing the death of my late distinguished colleague, that I may disabuse the Senator's.mind of the idea that I had any object. of a sinister character. [Fessenden declared that obituary resolutions added chiefly to the notoriety of speakers rather than to fame of the deceased.] Mr. Houston. I did not misapprehend the Senator at all. His remark was a general one, and had no reference to me; but I should be perfectly willing to be excluded from the possible bene- fits which it is supposed may result from this publication to those who participated in these obituaries. I am willing to exclude my remarks altogether, as I did not think they were worthy of the occasion, or creditable to myself, being entirely unprepared. If we are to begin on this occasion, it is a most extraordinary evidence of retrenchment. Let it be hereafter understood, if you please, that no more notices of this kind are to be needed, and let no more announcements be made of the death of Senators to this body, if you intend to effect a real retrenchment. So far as the gentleman's remarks went in relation to Army and Navy contracts, if he will only bring forward a measure to correct those evils, he will not find a more cordial cooperation from any individual in this body than from myself. I will go with him heart and hand in correcting abuses of magnitude in the first instance; but I will not begin at minor matters, that are mere trifles in themselves, and on occasions that require a different course, in my humble estimation. If this has been a custom of the Senate, this is not the place to begin the correction. Hence- forth you may have it understood, but do not go back to the past. I do trust the Senate will say that these obituaries shall be pub- lished. What is $2,000? We waste it every day here in nothing of any consequence.
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1 Congressional Globe, Part 2, 1857-1858, pp. 1507-1510 .
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CONCERNING THE ADMISSION OF MINNESOTA AS A STATE OF THE UNION 1 April 7, 1858. Mr. Houston. I have no apology to make for consuming the time of the Senate on this question. I shall vote for the bill admitting Minnesota into the Union; but I shall do so under a solemn protest against some principles contained in her constitu- tion. The provision which authorizes aliens to vote, I think is
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