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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1858
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arises from other motives and other feelings, and it is made by other persons-by those loving patriots who wish to vindicate their rights, and whose philanthropy overflows the land. They are the persons who involve foreigners in these matters. I have had many connections with foreigners, and I have found them as gentlemanly as native-born citizens; but I have no opinion of those who are unprepared and unqualified to exercise without restraint the rights of citizenship. I will not concede to such men the day after they arrive upon our soil the highest privilege that is accorded to our best men, to men "who are native, and to the manner born." But, Mr. President, I do not wish to occupy the time of the Senate. 1 Congressional Globe, Part 2, 1857-1858, pp. 1513-1515. • 2 Albert G. Brown, Senator from Mississippi, asked Houston if he thought that Indians who had adopted civilization had a right to vote. The constitu- tion of Minnesota proposed it. See the Globe, p. 1514. 8 Brown spoke to say that he had only asked the question, in order to draw Houston out on the propriety of letting Indians vote. Ibid., p. 1514.
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REMARKS ON BILL FOR RELIEF OF THOMES J. PAGE, APRIL 16, 17, 1858 1
I wish a motion entered to reconsider a bill which was passed yesterday in favor of Thomas J. Page, a commander in the United States Navy.... I allude to the bill appropriating over $300. [The Senate adjourned.]. Mr. Houston. I requested a motion to be made, yesterday, to reconsider the bill that was passed in favor of Thomas Jefferson Page, of the United States Navy. My reason was the want of correspondence between the statement of that officer and what I believe to be the facts in the case. Whether that officer is to blame, or whether he has misapprehended the facts in his statement, or whether the Department is culpable and delinquent in its duty, I do not know. I see in the statement of that officer, that he says: "He was not even allowed a clerk by the Depart- ment. The extent of country to be explored both by land and by water, necessarily involved at various times, not only a separation of portions of the officers and 'ship's company' from the vessel, but also made it necessary that the petitioner himself should be absent for periods of from one to six months. It will be per- ceived that had he remained on board to attend, in person, the duties of purser, he could not have properly discharged, under
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