Tlee Prefecttwe, 1840-1841
59
Committee on the State of the Republic with a request for a report at the earliest possible moment.' 7 By design or coincidence Saligny gave an elaborate dinner that night in honor of Acting President Burnet. All the notables were present and enjoyed the savory dishes and fine wines. The next morning the Bill was favorably reported with a recom- mendation for passage. Discussion was postponed to the afternoon after it was given a second reading on the motion of Congressman James May- field. Van Zandt now moved its adoption and was ably supported in his arguments by Mayfield, Porter, and Sam Houston. The ex-President took a most lively interest in the Bill until its final adoption almost two weeks later. In fact, it might be said that he constituted himself its guardian angel, and did not hesitate to use his great influence to secure passage of the Bill. Congressman William Harrison offered an amendment. He proposed the modifying words: "Provided that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to give title to any lands except the lots upon which the churches are situated, which shall not exceed fifteen acres." The amendment was quickly adopted. Then Van Ness, Congressman from Bexar, moved an exception. He proposed that the Alamo church, because of its close association with Texas history, be excepted from the list of churches that the Bill aimed to restore to the Church. Houston made a stout speech against the measure, but although he was supported by others, the motion carried. Van Ness's exception opened the floodgates to the opposition. Con- gressman Albert H. Latimer, who characterized the Bill as a "Catholic privilege" act, moved that the Secretary of the Treasury be authorized "to have a lot selected and a church built thereon ... for the use of the Methodist, Presbyterian, Cumberland Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Baptist churches" in all those localities where the Bill restored prop- erty to Catholics. This proposal was promptly rejected and its proponent was rebuked. George Blow, Junior member from Bexar, now came for- ward with a motion for excepting the church of Mission Conception on grounds similar to those of the proposal of Van Ness. If the principal of exception on reasonable grounds was admitted, it became evident 47 Odin in his Diar,y stated that the report was brought before the House and referred to committee on December 28, and that it was favorably reported on December 29, coming before the House for discussion the next day. Cf. Journals of House of Re-presentatives of the Re-p11blic of Texas. Fifth Congress, First Ses- sion, 1840-1841, (Austin, 1841). The apparent discrepancy as to the date of first reading may be a matter of interpretation.
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