Tri-Weekly State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 45, Ed. 1, Tuesday, February 28, 1854 Page: 1 of 4
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VOL. 1.
AUSTIN TEXAS. TUESDAY FEBRUARY 28 1854.
NO 45.
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13 ffll H &
FIFTH LBOIgLATURB
BEBATES IN THE SENATE.
.5. TT. CHjEIVIL11. Reporter.
Ehiday Jan. 13th 1854.
The adoption of Senator Weather-
ford's amendment to the Loan Bill being
the question Mr. Gage moved to la)' it
upon the tabic.
Mr. Weatlierford asked leave to ad-
dress the Senate.
Leave being given
Mr. WEATHEREORD said Mr.
President : I see according to the papers
that much responsibility rests upon my
shoulders if this amendment should be
adopted. I did offer it hesitatingly as I
remarked the other day because I took
the position before my constituents in
favor of the loan policy provided it
could be made a secure one. I wis wil-
ling to loan if it could bo. done safely.
We have already taken one step beyond
what I had promised to go. I did not
advocate the doctrine of giving an ad-
ditional grant of land; but we have
done it. I did not feel myself limited
in the amount to be given to encourage
the construction of the Pacific road. I
was willing to give almost any amount
that might be considered necessary to
ensure the construction of that road.
A ftnr ava had nrovitled liberally for that
road what comes next? A bill to grant
eight additional sections to the eight
which had already been granted making
16'Bections in all which I think Mr.
President very liberal. Now comes the
proposition to loan and forsooth be-
cause I ask a lien to secure the school
fund upon the property which the 'State
proposes to give railroad companies;
gentlemen would throw the whole respon-
sibility if the measure should happen to
he defeated upon my shoulders. Now
I can say that I am willing to shoulder-
that responsibility if it is to bo thrown
upon me.by the adoption of that auiond-
nont'Land! yill saytp.ihc.E.dit.o;-Af J&o.
"'Times'.' that if he will come up in iny
District and take the stump in opposition
tome for a.seat in. this Honorable body
I can beat him upon that' proposition two
votes tp one.
Mr. President permit me to remark
further that that gentleman (the Editor
of the " Times") was never a loan man
until the commencement of this session
and I am creditably informed supported
Col. Hamilton a candidate for a seat in
the House whose hostility to the loan
policy is well known and yet he says
"upon senator Weatlierford will rest
much of the responsibility " should the
measure bo defeated.
This is certain if that amendment is
adopted and they borrow the money it
will be amply secured; if it is not adopt-
ed the security is very doubtful; too
doubtful for the bill to get my support.
I think wo have done more than was ex-
pected of us. Wo have granted eight
additional sections of land and now be-
omioo T rvftnr an amendment to the loan
bill to make the fund secure I am to be
denounced as an enemy to the- measure.
Let gentlemen denounce me as much as
they please. I shall not consult them
to got their instructions or advice how to
cast my vote. I am sent hero to repre-
sent the interests of my constituents and
shall do it to the best of my poor ability.
I am not to bo whipped or spurred into
the support of this measure (nor will I
support it all if i do not come up to my
views) by the Editor of the "Times"
or by gentlemen-upon this floor. I nev-
er advocated loaning more than $-1000
to the mile this bill proposes to loan
nor did 1 advocato a donation ot
Saturday Jan. 14.
Mr. WHITAKER asked that tlio
journals be corrected; and stated that on
the motion to lay Mr. Scott's amendment
to Mr. Holland's amendment to the loan
bill on the table he voted with the
yeas. The same request was made on
the day before and almost immediately
after the vote had been announced and
upon his discovering that he had been
placed wrong upon the journals.
Mr. MILLICAN voted in the affirma-
tive through a mistake of the question
and asked to have hid vote changed Us
he intended to vote.
After some remarks by .several sena-
tors Mr. JOWERS said Mr. President:
I was in hopes that we could settle this
matter without further controversy. I
thought the proposition of the senator
from Brazoria ought to have settled it.
I thought it would be satifactory to all
O 4 tat
parties. It seems to me to be improper
now to open the-question of- how the se-
nator from Nacogdoches voted. Who
has to decide how that gentleman voted-?
Has the gentleman from Cass the right?-
I sat as near the senator as the gentleman
from Cass did. 1 could not tell how he
voted. The propositionls that tho sena-
tor from Nacogdoches should rccor.d his
vote as he says he voted while the sena
tor fr.om Brazos is precluded from record-
ing his as he says )ie intended to vote. I
know that the senator from Nacogdoches
believes that he voted differently from the
way that is recorded upon the journals ;
and I have no reason to doubt that ho
did. Permit me to say that as soon as the
vote was counted the gentleman from Na-
cogdoches announced that the vote was
15 and 15.
MM
la
i
ao
tic
to
MoitDAY Jan. 10.
rite question before the Senate was
tl ) correction of the journals of Friday
t.
Mr. WHITAKER-Mr. President:
I iisc for the purpose of asking lcavo of
once during tho discussion ot tins qucs-
i: beloro leaving 1 propose However
make a few remarks a simple state-
nuat of the facts of the case in relation
to ho question boforo the Senate.
3n Friday the vote having been taken
iq du senator Scott's amendment to sena-
to Holland's amendment I was informed
perhaps within a minute of the time after
thp vote had been announced that my
vole was recorded among tho "nays."
I immediately inquired if that was the
cake and was informed that it was. I
then asked to havo.that vote placed upon
the records as I voted. The rule of this
Senate permitting a senator to change his
vqtc boforo the result is announced and
not after itjias been announced except
by leave of the Senate applies to a dif-
ferent state of circumstances from tho
present case. I do not ask to have my
i-.-. ilt.-. rrA ln4- A-f lin i4- rnvirrflT vn
NyJUtU U11UMUU UUO 1.U llti U iu UVM 'vumj v
corded. It seems to mo that the simp-
lest' 'mode to have settled this matter
would havo been to have placed my vote
correctly upon tho journals when I asked
it almost immediately after it had been
announced; then what occurred subse-
quently would not have occurred. I pro
fess to know but little of -parliamentary
usage ; but I have a clear conviction of
Mr. WHITAKER: No sir! I said
that it was a tic 16 voting in the affirm-
ative : I thought there was thirty-two se-
nators voting.
Mr. JOWERS;:. Well I am stating
what I understood him to -Ray. I havo
no doubt that he voted as he says he did ;
becauso- 3; was a'stonishedtlhtt he should
have voted as the journals show him to
have voted. What objection can there
bo to both gentlemen placing themselves
right upon the journals ? It is objected
to because the senator from Brazos vo-
ted wrong through a mistake of the ques-
tion ; while the vote of the senator from
Nacogdoches was recorded wrong. In
both cases there was a mistake ; and if
one is to be rectified I think the other
ought to be. I would further say as I
intended to remark before that it was
clearly understood on my part that both
votes should stand as recorded on jester-
day ; becauso if both were allowed to
change it would not change the result.
That I thought was to be a final settle-
ment of the question ; and I was in hopes
that it would ond there without any fur-
ther investigation. Tt is a delicate ques-
tion to investigate. I dislike to say any
thnig upon it. I am willing that the votes
of both should bo corrected. One says
that ho voted one way and his vote was J
recorded another; while the other-says
.that he voted against his intentions
through mistake.
Mr. McANELLY ;Mr: President :
One gentleman voted in .the affirmative
and the vote was wrongfully recorded:
the other gentleman voted differently
from what he intended to vote through
a mistake ot the question. The eases
' are entirely different. One is improperly
represented upon the journals ; the other
as he actually voted. I have no fond-
ness for these long discussions. Would
like each gentleman to be represented as
ho is as thoy are represented to have
voted on opposite sides of tho question
and a change of their vote3 would not
ssrtnnn
oight additional sections of land but it chango the result. It seems to me' that-
has been mado. Things havo . come to gontlomen seize cvory opportunity to
such a pass that when I cast my vote for
that bill I must feel assured from tho boU
torn of my heart that it affords sufficient
security to tho State I bolievo my con-
stituents will sustain mo in casting avoto
that will not endanger the school
fund and hope from this day forward
that gentlemen editors willlotmo alone.
(Mr. Weatlierford made some further
remarks not ropor ted.)
-tTho amondmont wasJaidtopWhc ta-
Mo by a vote of 18 yeas to14nays; - .
dodge tho question of bringing this mca-
suro to a linal vote. 1 am tireu very
tired of these long debates. I am sick
to the bottom of my; soul of such ways of
dodging tho question.' Let gentlemen
come down to tho work at once and not
soizo upon every opportunity to continue
tho discussion upon this question.
f After a discussion of tfomc length in
which-a 'number of senators took a p"art
tlmmestionSfasostponed until Monday
what would bdright. I am painfully
brouffht in the nositibn which I itowr oc
cupy. I merely ask to be placed right
to have tho journals show my vote just
as it was given. It is not necessary for
me to Bay anything in regard to the vote
cast by the senator from Brazos. It has
nothing to do with what I ask of this Se-
nate : the cases are not similar. I ask
my vote to be recorded as it was given :
ho asks to bo allowed to chango his vote.
Tlio inistako in 'recording my vote was
discovered almost immediatelyand should
have-ibcon corrected then as a matter of.
justice to myself.
Some remarks havo beeir mado here
which' might be considered to cast some
reflections upon me which might be con-
strued prejudicially to myself. I hope
they were not made for that purpose.
One senator would seem to imply in his
remarks that by my course of conduct I
was throwing suspicion upon the Secre-
tary that ho had not'done his duty; and
alsp that I was implicating the conduct
of the presiding officer. I could not dis-
cover anything throwiug suspicion on ci-
ther. I asked but for a sinjple thing to
be' done which would have placed all
right and it was certainly casting no re-
flection upon any one.
The gentleman from Anderson ('Mr.
Jowers) seems to suppose that I merely
wished the change mado upon tho record
to place mo right with my constituents.
I disclaim it as far as my constituents are
concerned as a simple matter of rc-
.cord I caro not on which side it is record
ed. Tho remarks which have neon made
upon this floor in regard to this ques-
tion might bo construed prejudicial to
wnnli n1 .-..v.t-' X I I lit rtllrtOTlAM IWlf Xrf
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racity; though I hope they were not so
intended. Some of thein apparently
fair may be construed prejudicially. Tho
gcutloman from Anderson (Mr. Jowors)
if I recollect his words upon this subject
in some remarks made on a former occa
sion asked "who is to decide how tho
gentleman from Nacogdoches voted ? Is
Ithe gentleman from Cass to decider
U. hen he says that ho was mucn nearer
than thcgentleman trom Uass (Mr. Tay-
lor) and he could not say how I voted.
This implies a doubt as to " how I did" ac-
tually vote. It seems to doubt tho cor-
rectness of my statements.
Mr. JOWERS I ask leave to explain.
I made somo remarks upon this subject
on a former occasion more to prevent
our establishing a precedent of this kind
than for any other purpose. I repeat it
that I believe what tho Senator from
Nacogdoches (Mr. Whitaker) said in"re-
gard to his vote is correct. If 'wo are
not to take his word as to how ho votod
who is to decide? Am I or tho gentle-
man from Cjasa to dojit ? J said that
tlioro'was a probab'ilityof litis being mis-
&enitomM$ 'lie 'stated the vote
to be 15 and 15 when it was 10 to 1 (i.
If tho gentleman did not vote as ho says
he did I know that ho intended to do so.
I did not intend to east any reflections'
upon tho gentleman.
Mr. WHriAKER "Whoisto de-
cide how tho gentleman voted? Is the'
senator from Cass to do it ? I sit as hear
tho gentleman as tho Senator from Cass."
Tho explanation of tho gcntlomnn docs
not prevent suspicion from being thrown-
upon mo.
Mr JOWERS I"have offered uirftliu.
explanation that I would ask of a gentle-
man. I do not intend to say anything
farther in thomattor.
Mr. WHITAKER -There arc sever-
al Senators that hnard mo. vote' and
know how I voted. Now the announce-
ment which I mado upon the votes' -being
taken was to a senator in my:rcar.yl
would ask-that Senator if 16 and'3'6Kwns-
not as I gave it ? -' '.J-?-
Mr. HOLLAND Yes Sir. "V
Mr. JOWERS I stated what I un-.
dorstood him to say. ' -v
Mr. WHITAKER-I dislike vovymiich;;
to have an inference thrown out' casting'
suspicion upon ino and after I call tlio
gentlemans attention to it to have him
continue to reiterate it. Those to whom
I spoke understood me different froih the
gentleman and still he claims that ho is
right. My experience in passing through
this world has been (though I hope no
Senator witiuntncso naiisAvoum uo sucn
a thing) that men sometimes are afraid
to approach a point openly and fairly '
and therefore take an undermihded
course to injure thosowhoni they seek to
injure. They ma- offer an apology but
one which is more" cutting than tho origi-
nal offence. Such mon aro thoso who
are afraid to approach the light. I have
said that I hoped no Senator upon this
floorworld be guilty of such Ja course. I
have seen persons making their apologies
and afterwards spreading broad-cast their
insinuations casting suspicions uponthe
one to whom they have offered their apol
ogy. . l would asic tno senator trom ;ivn
dor
ted
crsoh(Mr. Jowers) if ho luis cvor ' shi-
3d that he was willing to swear that&ho
heard me announce the vote to be 15.' to
15? ' ?2
Mr. JOWERS I have stated tha.l
thought it was so and was "willing ?;to.
swear as I understood it. -M
Mr. WAITAKER I ' -' .
( The PRESIDENT Senators should
discuss the question without digressing-
Mr. WHITAKEli If the chair de-
cides that I am out of order I would'lisk
leave of absence from the chamber!
Tho PRESIDENT Senators must
not digress.
under-
Mr. SCAllBOROUG-H I
stand that tlio gentleman from Nacog-
doches only wishes to be placed fright
upon the journals-T-just as ho voted.
Ho asks nothing more. Is there. any
gentleman upon this floor that would not
extend that. courtesy to him?
Tho PRESIDENT The gentleman
from Nacogdoches can proceed withniB'is
remarks but must iiot deal in personalis'
tics.
Mr. WHITAKER-r-If there wore
others who heard mo announce the.; yote '
to ho 16 and 1G Ihey would gratifvme
tho Senator.
in stating it
Mr. KYLEI sa
near;
from Nacogdoches stated distinctly 4tliat
it was "a tlio vote; 10 and Hi." ' s
Mr. t WHITAKER Will any other
Sonator state if he heard it ?. . - .
Mr. ALLEN I heard sonator Wh)t-
akermake the announcement and.'uhclqr-
stood him to say that the voto was' 'ilfi
and 16;" farther than that 1 lcnowTiotr
Mr. WHITAKER I merely wish"
Mr. President in those remarks to place
the discussion of thismatter in its proper
light. I have conceived that tho re-
marks of tho senator from Andergon
(Mr. Jowers) mights bo. construed projii-'
dicial to myself. Upon that pointfl will
say nothing farthor. I now ask lcavoof
absence from tho Senate until this vques-
tion is settled. ' -''
Mr. JOWERS Mr. President :!
did not think I would mako any farther
apologies than I havo already madobo-
causo I thought thoy ought to bo satis-
factory. Thoy certainly 'would -have
boon to mo had I been placed in the sit-
uation of tho gontloman from Nacogdo-
ches; but to place myself proporly'b'oforo
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Ford, John S. Tri-Weekly State Times (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 45, Ed. 1, Tuesday, February 28, 1854, newspaper, February 28, 1854; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth78435/m1/1/: accessed May 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.