The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-12-15
From the New York Globe.
GEN. SAM HOUSTON.

On the 18th of last month, some eighty of the
most respectable citizens of Galveston, Texas, ad-
dressed letter TO Gen. M. b. Lamar, requesting
his opinion of the course of Gen. Sam Houston,
relative TO the annexation question his answer is
direct and pointed, and exposes the character and
movements OF Houston as fully as it shows his
meanness in attempting to make political capital
by denying his former measures. We give the
following extract which forms the conclusion of
Gen. Lamar's reply:
IL is useless TO pile Ossa on Pelion. If the
facts and reasonings already adduced are iasuffi-
clent TO satisfy the reader Of the utter falsehood
OF zen. HGuston's declaration, that all this APP
parent opposition to annexation, wss only intend
ed to deceive the British Minister, fear that his
mind is, upon this question, mpervious to truth
and 1t would be useless to urge upon him any fur
Their considerations. If, however, there is a
patient examiner of evidence, who is slow in re-.
celving conviction, yet willing. when fairly con-
Vinced TO surrender his pIeudices and passions to
the sacred cause Of truth, to him [ will address
one more argument-or rather will present some
of the past arguments in new shape, and then
leave the matter, in the elegant and perspicuous
language of his present Excellency TO its con-
tingencies.' Let US then. for little while, sup
pose General Houston to be arraigned by Capt
Elliot upon the charge of insincerity. Suppose
the Minister were to say to him: Sir you assured
me upon your official honor that you were opposed
TO the annexation of Texas to the United States
and you desired me TO notify my government of
the fact. Why, then, have you since declared
that our correspondence and intercourse upon this
subject, was mere tCogustry' on your part?'
Against the depravily implied in this charge, and
in the defence of his honor, the General might
very justly and triumphantly reply, in the fol-
lowing language. He might say 10 the Minister
Sir, you know very well that this declaration
was extoried from me by the dangerous position
in which was placed by my fidelity to you
Had acknowledged TO the truth and validity of
my pledges to your government, it would have
involved me in treason to my own people. TO
gloss them over, therefore, under the plea of
coquetry, was my only alternative. 1t was no.
done In malice to you, but in safety TO myself
That have acted in good faith to your Govern
flent, you have every reason to believe; and have
no testimony to disproye. Did not my Cabinet
oppose the annexation Did not my press, my
partlsans, my foreign Ministers, my officers of
Government, and all others over whom had any
control, do the same2 Did not, under your adj
vice, issue my Proclamation of an Armistice and
send my commissioners to Mexico2 Did | not
also cause DIR. Jones to be elected to the Presi-.
dency for the avowed purpose Of having my
pledges to you carried out2 And has he not done
so TO the full extent of his abiitIes2 Did he not
furnish you with the basis Of the treaty with
denounced annexation 2 Did ne not delay the
calling of Congress until your return with that
Treaty, and as he received it, did he
not issue Proclamation Of an Armistice, in which
he distinctly indicated his preference Of ndePend-
ence to annexation And did not throughout
this period, whilst the whole country was camor-
Gus for annexation, maintain a sullen silence,
even though strongly appealed to, by the dying
Hero OF New Orleans, TO come out IN favor OF 1t
What stronger proof can you require OF my fideli-
Ity2 defy you to name the first act that have
over committed in favor of the measure, or the
first one omitted, which il was in my power to
employ against it, without The utter rom 10 my
SELF What then becomes of your charge against
me2 Produce your evidence. Do you hope to
con Vict me by my own confession You know
as well as do the necessity Of my regulating
the past and you cannot oppose my extorted &C
acknowledgement TO the long train Of consistent con-
duct which has come under your own observation.
Actions speak louder than words let me be judp-
ed by lhem'
And now, gentlemen, suppose Gen. Houston
were TO make such speech as this to the British
Minister in reply to his impuiatiOn--w what answer
could the Minister offer He would be comnell-
ed to acknowledge the force and validity of the
Argument, and withdraw his charge And if
these facts and reasOnings arc sufficient to produce
conviction, when urged by Gen. Houston himself.
in what respect are their weight and authority
diminished by their being urged in this behalf by
another
And now, gentlemen, what are the conclusions
to be drawn from this conduct2 No man enters
Into intrigues without soms object, either public