The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1849-06-29

NJ 'tc proper Time, and upon the proper occa-
SION, before those whose servant am, will ten
der the gauntlet who shall choose to take il IN,
and ! hold myself IN readiness to Justify my
action before the pure and only true source Of
power intend 10 know whether one can resis;
this mischievous and lceniious spirit of section
al ag;tators and sappers and miners of the
Constitution, and survive. ! have no fear hat
] shalt not be mos, trirmphantly sustained,
when the storm has swept by. Nor would
change course SO clearly demanded by consid-
eraiions of duty, il knew was to be over.
whelmed. II Is better that an humble nd,1d.
ual should perish, II in his struggle he should
arouse the attention of the people to the dam
gers which threaten them. Sir stand upon
the waichtower Of liberty, where my fathers
stood before me, and invoke the spirit Of my
eountry's constitution. Like Burke, when
speaking Of the controversy with the American
colonies, stand not here 10 demonstrate points
OF law, bu, 10 quiet agitation. Let the storm
| now on let the hattlcmcnts rock, II they wall ,
let faction toss, and roar, and hurl her inipoicnt
| arrows Of detrac,ion, ami will LAUGH them to
seorn; Tor did not take up my position with
out counting the cost. II had courlcd mo-
| ihehtnry elevation or personal eclat ! might
have erred loudcst among slavery agita,ors, aud
rode high upon the whirlwind, II ] could no,
have directed the storm, But | have chosen to
do my duty, and to meet the responsibilities
incident to my position and, in my vacant and
solitary hours ! shall feel that qualification
which consciousness of rectitudc and firm
| discharge OF auty alone can give, and which
| the world cannot take away. have never ia.
'orcd the institution Of slavery or It's extension,
| either immediately or remotely, and whoever
| charges or nsinua'es the reverse, originates n
| base and deliberate, and unless he is ignorant
| OF my sentiments, wiliul calumny. Equally
| untrue Is 1t that any one has proposed to legis
late for the extension Of slavery. II has often
been asserted, knowing its talsity and is per-
| sisted n doubtless under that questionable az
| ION IN morals, that a ialsehood perscvered in
| Is equivalent TO the truth. My habits, thoughts,
| feelings education, Instincts nay, my very pre-
Jndlccs, are against slavery but | would not
| interfere in what is no concern of mine, 10 OBJ
| tain a greater evil and no good The south
have SIMPLY asked that they may be left to
their sovereign rights as states, and to such
rights M the territories as the legal tribunals
may decide are theirs under the constitution
They do not ask any legislation in favor of
slavery, or It's extension q diffusion, but pro-
test against its agitation in Tn. Federal Govern-
mcnt. or any Legislation by Congress upon the
subject; and in this the south ARE right, and |,
for one, shall stand by them and sustain them,
let who will cry or clamor, or come what may,
SO long as they stand upon n ground so clearly
reasonable and constitutional as this 1t is
urged ~ another reason for leglslating against
slavery in this territory by my colleague, that,
! unless ~" do, It may shock the tender suscepti-
bIli'les of Mexico. certainly shall not call in
question the force OF this very singular author
lty; but, not proposing to draw lessons of po-
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