Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/197

 for the citizens of the United States, and it will be for them to say, on some subsequent occasion, whether their voice shall be heard and their rights respected, or whether they will tamely yield those inestimable rights to the unhallowed dictation of politicians, who may choose to barter them for their own individual aggrandizement, or otherwise dispose of them contrary to the known will of their constituents."

At the opening of the Nineteenth Congress, December, 1825, Houston, having been re-elected, was again placed on the Military Committee of the House; and soon he was drawn out in this and other relations. A widow of New Hampshire, who had lost a son in the Indian wars, asked a pension, and Houston became her advocate. Mr. Webster called for information as to diplomatic relations with Central America; and Houston sustained him. Mr. Calhoun, now out of office, asked, through representatives from South Carolina, an investigation as to charges of fraud in the War Department while he was Secretary under President Monroe; Mr, Floyd, of Virginia, his friend, favored the request; while Houston, though subjected himself while a lieutenant to unjust aspersion, showed himself impartial toward the former Secretary. Mr. Webster, still pressing the claims of the Greeks, asked an appropriation of $50,000 to supplement private contributions sent them; but Houston, with a large majority, voted against it as a matter for individual charity, not to be taken from the people at large. When final action on Mr. Webster's tariff provisions came up, though passed by 106 to 95, Houston was with the opposers.

Among resolutions expressive of censure on the course of the new Administration, was one specially touching the interests of the people; which called out Houston's sustained and earnest opposition, and brought him before the country as an able debater. On the 12th of February, 1827, Gen. Saunders, of North Carolina, offered a resolution directing the Secretary of State, Mr. Clay, to communicate to the House " a list of all the newspapers in each State of the Union in which the laws of Congress were directed to be published in 1825-6; also, a list of such in which the laws are directed to be published in 1826-7, designating the changes which have been made, and the reasons for such changes." Gen. Saunders spoke at length on presenting the resolution; and occupied the hour given to resolutions also on the 12th, and again on the 14th and 15th. On the 17th Mr. Johnson, of New York, replied, opposing the resolution. His time having expired, Houston, who purposed to reply, asked an extension of Mr. Johnson's privilege, which was granted; and he completed his argument on the 20th. On the 22d, Houston got the floor; also again on the 24th; when, not having fully completed his reply, the rare courtesy of