The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-10-23


Prom the Texas Presbyterian, Sept III
10 compliance with the request Of many OF or
citizens, our distinguished fefow-townsman, 0sa.
Sam Houston, addressed the people Of Wslkse
county, in the Presbyterian church ct this place.
that day having been given through the papers, and
II being court day, there was large concourse Of
people present The large church was crowded.
deep attention that was paid, interrupted only BY
the frequent and loud applause Of the multitude.
attested the delight with which all listened to the
distinguished orator: Many thought IT the ablest
spe ec6 that they had ever heard him make Others.
who had never heard him speak before, had their
expectations than realized: II Is difficult to
determine when Houston speaks best. The last
speech ore hears him make always appears to be
happily conceived and expressed. IL has been our
happiness to hear him on many occasions FER
haps We have heard and seen and felt greater exhi-
billions of his vast Oratorical powers but his speech
on Monday last was distinguished for profound
thought, cogency Of argument, happy illustration,
and tor a patriotic devotion to the MON OF the
States-a sentiment that pery AIDED it throughout
i was calm and statesmanlike speech, worthy OF
Sam Houston, worthy Of the position that ne occu-
pies to the country, worthy of the gallant people
whose representative he is, and of whose views ana
principles and feelings he is EN- phaticaly the great
embodiment.
In the outset, General Houston paid high and
deserved compliment to his noble colleague, Gen
kusk He alluded to their past services together
IN the early struggles Of the country, and spoke
eloquently Of their Joint efforts in support of the
adjustment measures of the last Congress. He ad-
yerted to his Oregon vote; He had been abused
for it, had been denounced as traitor, and held
up to the Reproduction of mankind, when that vote
was given in strict accordance with the Missouri
compromise-when the passage Of the Oregon bill
line of So 30. Oregon territory all lay above that
line The South did not contend the right to
carry slaves there. That matter was settled by
the act of 1920. All Oregon was then declared to
Ia IS hat tAVyt
when they asked for q government, petitioned
Congress to prohibit the introduction OF slavery
there. He had planted himself upon the Missouri
line Of So 20; he had adhered to that oompromise.
regarding it as invested with the sanctity OF the
constitution ITSELF until it had been abandoned ana
denounced by the South.
He voted, also, for the admission OF California
Fer this be had been denounced California Wa
admitted as other States have been admitted. The
people adopted q republican form OF government
they had prohibited slavery themselves. There
was nothing in this repugnant to the constitution
that the den ocratic party had always contended
for-the principle that had always conteuded for.
and that he should always contend for-that the
and municipal regulations and laws 1t was neces-
sary for California to have State government; the
emergency-the extraordinary state of things-ds-
manded it absolutely; the salvation Of the people
depended upon it; the peace Of the Union itself
perhaps its very existence-depended upon it, Ca
fornia a remote territory; it was rapidly pspu-
latng; the character of the population was anoma-
lous. great majority Of the people were good
people, but there was large intermixture OF bad
men among them-reckless, and abandoned, and
lawess characters, whom it was necessary to init
midate and restrain by the strong arm OF the law.
The people needed protection against such men,
and protection could only be afforded by we'll re-
gulated State government. IL that had been de-
MED them, they weuld not have been treated ~
American citizens. They would have felt 1t; and
would it not have weakened their attachment to
this government Nay, who will say that such an
act Of injustice on our part--such disregard OF
their interests and their rights-mght not have re-
suited in remuneration of their allegiance to TINS
government! What, then, would have been the
result =! Could We have forced them into subjec-
toni Could we have conquered them. Even ad-
hitting that this were possible, It was not the way
its existence. We regard the people Of California
equals, entitled to all the benefits and privi-
leges, and blessings that We enjoy,
But, what was stranger than all, he had been
abused for voting for tho ten million proposition 70
Texas. 1t was his fate to be abused-he had been
abused for everything that he had done for the
country. But he did not look fer IL in this instance
He was called coward at the battle OF San Jaoin-
to. lfhe was a coward, he was most unfortunate
one for it had been his fate in every battle that ne
had ever fought, to be severely wounded lie was
called coward for the retreat from the Colorado,
which proved the salvation Of Texas. lie had been
charged with treason in endeavoring to sell IexAs
to England and France, when these very SANDERS,
which he suffered to 60 abroad uncontradicted
about his intrigues with these powers were one OF
the me ans that FASTENED on the communication Oh
the great measure Of annex alton. He had been
abused for vetoDg the land bill, which was finally
passed over his head, and which has entaied in
calculable evils upon the country lie was abused
for vetong the war bill in 1872, when it was pro-
posed to invade Mexico. Some then thought that
Texas could conquer Mexico without men or means;
he thought it would require both. When Uncle
and sixty millions of dollars. He had been abused
and denounced for these and for many other things
that he had done for Texas; but really he did OF
expect to meet abuse for his agency in the settle
ment of the Texas boundary question-a measure
so fraught with benefits to Texas and blessings to
the Union. This part Of General Houston's speech
was very interesting. lie reviewed the history OF
the boundary question. IL was clear elucldauon
as it disclosed much Of his own private history in
this connection that had not before been published
General Houston disposed Of the Southern ultras
and Northern fanatics very summary He placed
them in the came category-classed them togetheri
they were governed by different sentiments, but
they aimed at the same object "a dissolution Of the
Union. Fortunately for the country, there were
but few Of them in either end Of the Union. The
people at the North and South were sstis6ed
with the adjustment Of the slavery question. The
country had nothing to apprehend from the few
restless spirits who were still endeayorng to keep
up the agitation. They were powerless-for the
sympathies Of the people were not with them.
OF the disunionists in Texas, or those who op-
posed the acceptance Of the ten million proposition.
zen. Houston made equany ~ nasty WORK he
met their arguments triu nphantly, and expressed
his surprise that there was any opposition TO pro-
position so immensely advantageous to Texas. He
alluded to the proposition that we once made TO
Epgland, to give her Eve millions Of dollars to 90
cure q recognition Of our independence BY Mexico.
There appeared to be no opposition to that measure
At another time. Texas made overtures to the
United States for annexation. She is willing u
surrender all her public domain, condition thai
that government would annex her, and assume thu
payment Of her debt. There was no opposition
heard to that proposition. But we had nov made
IN infinitely better bsrgain-we were In IN infinitely
better position than we would have been had eithel
Of the other propositions been successful We had
been xnncxed-we had ten millions Of dollars, and
We still had vast public domain Of one hundred
millions Of acres. What more could We desire
Had not everything conspired to render us em.
this had been acquired without single sscriace Of
principle or honor our part, and without leopard
ing In the east the interests of our sister states of