79
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
Government deficient. That was no discharge of the officer's duties. Any clerk, or any steward, would know very well that he was bound by regulations not to advance anything to sailors, but that he was to pay them up to the time they had served. Their payments are regular; their issues are regular; the receipts taken from them should be regular; and after all, it is nothing to discharge the duties of purser. It is a very small thing to take memoranda from the men for what has been paid to them; and no difficulty can arise, if the least care is exercised. As this officer was furnished with the ordinary means given to officers placed in similar circumstances, if you set this precedent, it will require the eternal action of this body to make up the deficiencies that officers will render to the Government for want of proper vouch- ers, and the time of Congress will be used as accounting officers to the Government in making up deficiencies, and misapplication of the means of the Government by granting relief to individuals. I am for holding to a strict accountability men who are intrusted with public funds; and if they are not careful in obtaining the requisite vouchers, let them be responsible to the Government, and be docked in their own pay or perquisites. It used to be so, and it ought to be so again. 1 Congressional Globe, 1857-1858, Part 2, pp. 1627, 1639, 1653. -On April 15, 18:i8, Mr. Mason, of Virginia, had brought up two small bills for the relief of Commander Thomas J. Page, of the United States Navy, who was about to leave the country. Both bills had passed the Senate at the last session; the object in bringing them up again was to get the auditor of the Treasury's audit, so that Commander Page's 1·ecord might stand in the clear. The motion to rehear was rejected.
REMARKS ON THE PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL1·
April 17, 1858.
Mr. Houston. It was my intention, Mr. President, at some period of this debate, to introduce amendments, and to offer some remarks upon them; but, believing as I do, from the character of the business before the Senate, and the limited duration of the session, that, in all probability, the bill will be postponed, I think fit here to give notice of a proposition which I intend to introduce in the nature of an amendment. It is in relation to the eastern terminus of the road, connecting the Mississippi with San Diego and San Francisco. It is "that the eastern terminus" shall be opposite Memphis, in Arkansas, or the mouth of the Red River, in Louisiana. This terminus would give to the whole community
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