The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-19


fremont Temple, last night to hear address upon the
subject of Texas by General Sam Houston President
Of Texas and now member Of the United States Senate
The meeting called to order by Colonel Joseph Hall,
and the following officers then appointed:
Prssident.-Hon. B. +. HalIett
wee Presidenis.-Charles G. Greene, George Savage,
A w. Thaxter, jr., Noah Hanod, and William Mitchell
Secretaries Joseph Smith and Charles Mayo
After explaining the object of the meeng and giving
rapid and graphic sketch of the extraordinary life OF
General Houston, the president introduced him The
demonstrations of welcome were tremendous
The General after the applause OF the reception had
subsded, proceeded with his address His form is com
manner COOL collected, and courteous, but firm and de-
cisive his enunca,ion measured and emphatic and his
style simple strong and direct, hghened occasionally
with playful humoT sharpened with sarcasm or irony,
as the topic illustration may require.
After some general remarks concerning the relative
dtion OF the United States and Texas in point of national
development he entered upon the defence of the first steps
taken by the inhabitants OF Texas when the Mexican
stn'on OF o.t was set aside by busamene In the mrs,
Busamente. Texas had never wronged Mexico out OF
was that of baraners The American settlers Of Texas
the recipients OF the bounty OF Mexico, without
an adequate remuneration Mexico needed such settlers
above all things much than the settlers wanted the
lands The Mexicans too deficient in military Prov
ess to defend themselves against the Indians and invited
American settlers occupy the territory situated between
the Mexican settlements and the Indian country. The
Americans were protection against Indian
cursions Their history had shown that they could do
BY the combination and association OF indulgence they
had um ped conquered subdued, and driven back
the savage races. wherever they had them This
the service they render The territory be
the consideration for it, The Americans settled under the
constitution of 1924 the general features of which
similar to that OF sitntion. There some
things in the constitution which they did exactly like
but they had agreed in under it, and they
faithful their obligations under that agreement They
allowed TO penetrate into the Mexican settlements.
The Mexican constitution only existed paper, far
the Mexican people were concerned. They experienced
Of the protection from the which was
its professed object The Mexcans, in fact hard
y knew the meaning OF constitution 1t had worked no
change in their general condition They took Interest
in the circumstance when Urea, treating it as nough set
himself up as dictator Busamente however, rose against
him, and he assassinated Busamene, paying no re-
gard to the suspended constitution underworld to tabish
authority This movement brought Santa Anna, the most
and popular general of the country upon The
field Of action He displaced Busaaiente by pretending
70 be IN iayo OF restoring the constitution Having es,ao
hed himself as DICTATOR he proceeded to abolish the STATE
the legislative bodies from their halls Zacaecas exhibited
,s hi, saSe he
ceeded in betrayng the Zacatecans and consummaed his
This the position OF hing, in 1885. The people of
Texas had suffered much while these asemaons in The
gevous frauds and exac,ions and VIOLATIONS their
rights guaranteed by the constitution They called con-
published declaration. acknowledging The constitution.
and their Willingness TO be governed under it, Having sub
Mexican people The Texans refused to give up theirs
They needed Them in hunting and for defence against the
fame of Napoleon, collected army operate against
them At this te, the whole population OF Texas did not
had army OF 5000. with the of eight mil
lions of Me1issns, and the mincs 10 support his army
where there were but $50 Texans. Then with only
100 troops in tho field Texas declared her independence
The bncheres OF the Alamo and Fannns's command. af
ter capulaton followed Panic and horror first seized
upon inc texans out M smcceeaed Sansa anna,
ued his advance with increasing holiness His rear was
field and he received the chastsement which the
muated wrath OF vengeance was capable OF nfctng lie
was made to feel that he human and that he was no
longer object He released home
without conditions. He turned loose like some harm
Texas could have done no less and ha done Der duly
it not necessary to do She had established her
independence and back her enemies their
Texas was acknowledged as independent, nation by
Santa Anna the United Safes and the principal powers
Europe with the boundary Of the Rio Gande But the
hearts OF the people turned the United States All but
gently turned aside Washington, until fear that
as 70 he States Thea an oer
made and by Tesas The dsesa raised by
would deny it Being Independent, had she right to
der the constitutions 10 admit Texas, then had she
power to admit Louisiana or Florida The power exe
the
the finest territory the face OF the earth Texas obtained
to have and for willing to give mp her nationality
her army, her navy her munitions of war and her Gus
by maintaining military establishment; and When she
was mehaced by Mexico her executive called upon the
was not Until that cali had been made that The United States
troops into the country II the Texan had
been retained in service the Rio Grande the Mexcans
would have assembled in force within their reach AZ
discussing the boundary question which he considered
established by no less than thirty distinct facts spoke of
the opponents OF the the United ates
the speeches of Cowin Clay and others of that stamp
Those friends OF Mexico actuaed with the hope of obtain
ing the control of their country, responsible for
every drop of American blood she'd and every American
life lost since the capituaton of Monterey The circula
which these speeches obtained in Mexico and their
influence upon the popular mind such that the lead
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Gen. Houston adverted the evil reports which
have obtained belief in relation to the people OF Texas and
attributed them mainly to persons whose conduct had
dered their longer residence in Texas inconvenient and
re- character and OF life, while in Texas
men, who have since been the pnc pal mis- sonnres of
SANDER relation Texas in the United States He then
spoke of improvements which have taken place in the
Mexican forces in 1886 Provision has been made edu
cation seminaries of Learning have been endowed
churches bu the preaching OF the gospel provided for
sabbath opened with full attendance pupils and
Bible classes the arts, SCIENCE and literature are eceiv
ing active encouragement, and all things working
harmony, develop OF the richest Soils and
country Astounding in the most varied resources of album
dant prosperity
Gen. Houston was repeatedly interrupted by cheers,
his auditors watching every expression with the keenes
interest, seeming to appreciate fully every point in his
address.
The president next introduced to the meeting the Hon
d. S. Kaufman, member OF Congress from Texas, VINO
was very warmly received by the audience
He went very fully the boundary question: and proved
edged the Rio Gnne, but that the Mexicans had never
the side OF the Rio Grande since
1896 They could have kept garrison that side Tor
week The rangers always had TO go the river to
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