The republic., 1851-03-18
MIR. Burma. Fewer than in any State of the

Mr.. HOUSTON. IL would be very ridicu ulous, MIR.
President, TO suppose that any intentional nlisrep
resentaiion would be made ON my part which
would be liable to the cton which this has been
so that could have had no motive To assail South
Carolina, or any portion of her citizens. by making
statements that were false. Sir, have been mark
a target, for the shafts of South Carolinian re-
sentiment for a long time. believe as far back as
my vote on the Oregon bill-or may even gofur-
| ther, as far back the revolution OF Texas-the
| government of that State denounced my country
men and myself outlaws, not entitled to the
| sympathies of the American community. But
will forbear going far back the date OF the
| Texan revolution, and advert to the time when
was denounced for my vote on the Oregon bill. Al
though il was the identical vote that had been given
by the representatives of South Carolina III relation
10 Iowa and Wisconsin, and am not sure but other
States, with the very provso contained in il,
yet, in published speech in Charleston, gentle
man, then a member of the Senate, now more,
denounced me, and said that ought to be held up
to reprobaton for voting did. Subsequent to
that time for thought had paid up for that
another individual Of South Carolina assailed me
in style suited to his own taste. 1t was not ad-
mired as an elegant literary specimen, grant, but
still it may have answered his purpose. To that
assault replied. l then thought matters were
ended. and was in hopes they were; but recently
publication was made by an honorable gentleman
who is from South Carolina, ! believe, or at least
claims affinity with that State, and very pro-
perly, tool allude to General Hamilton. Being
q letter addressed to relative OF mine who had
asked for any suggestions that might feel at lib
ery to make on the present crisis took occasion 10
advert to the letter oil General HantOn ana 0lu IL,
asl thought, in courteous and becoming manner,
without any i'll feeling. General Hamilton respond
| ed, and it was but fair that should respond to
| him again. did 30, and in the same spirit with
which he answered my letter to my relative, which
| rendered the correspondence between us direct II,
| in my reply to him, however, inaccuracies exist,
they were not intentional, must be manifest, and
I they are Of course now correctsd did not expect
! that any illusions Of mine would be calculated to
prejudice South Carolina in the estimation of her
sister States. The general character OF my gene
v,pf
changed. Her character an oligarchy still re-
mains. She is controlled by few leading men.
Look at the last election for representatives MEM
bers of the convention and the popular express
sion that has been given by the people of that Stae
and whether the present manRu uvrcs now going or
there are not controlled and managed by a few Of
| the leading individuals. Then, sir, have not u
right to animadvert upon that State and array the
composition Of her conventions?
| To allege that members of the United States
Senate were not elected by the Legislature Of South
standing of every one for every person knows that
all the States appoint Senators Of the United States
| in the same way, and must be very Ignorant, IN
deed. not to have supposed that the Legislature Of
| South Carolina exercised many functions as
other State Legislatures.
/ That the people Of South Carolina do not enjoy
their full right of suffrage compared with the other
States, still affirm. Has popular vote been
given in South Carolina for the chief magistrate of
the Has vote Seen
|
| tiycs in either branch of the Legislature? pro.
perty qualification is required for electors or do
not read the constitution correctly. These are i'll
substance my allegations; and have they been ex-
| planned away?
And, sir, if am to be taught any thing in regard
| to liberty, beg leave to be allowed to select my
own preceptors. There are many qualifications
requisite ip preceptor, and must be allowed to
choose who has tho most Of those qualifications;
at least, must find in him many as will induce
me to think well of him. and repose confidence in
| ,o1x, 1,t,x h,t To~u tat Nv
Of Texans this floor-to be instructed how to
gain liberty how to preserve it, And il he 70 go
to South Carolina to be taught i or Is he 10 go there
| to learn loyalty TO the Union? Texans have been
taught in tie school adversely and they have been
taught from instinct. They were Americans; like
Americans they have acted, and like Americans
and to the Union. 1t would be pretty thing, in
Decd to suppose that the people Of Texas after eight
years tribulationeigh years of gloomy trial-a t-
tie band of Texans, insulated from the common so
ciety OF nations struggling against eight millions OF
people, and million and half OF warrorso or more,
and still with heart yearning for reunion to this
country, with all the fal attachment Of children
that they should not learn TO appreciate their own
| condition, and to esteem their renewed introduc
ton into this Union would like to see the pre-
ceptor Of Texas for the last fourteen years. They
have had but one common instructor, and that was
their love of liberty. And should bc glad to be
instructed if South Carolina has stood in any
danger that has not been common to the whole
| country? What has she done that others have not
| equally done? For her losses in the field of bat
tie, which were great and grievous to South Caro-
lima. the honor which has redounded to her will be
| mperishable. Gallant were the sons of South Car
olina no fell on the soil of Mexico, and offered
bation to their country in the blood that was shed
on the fields of victory appreciate all that they
have done, but to accord to them the need OF praise
to the exclusion of othersto grant that South Car
| olina has led the all occasions where the
conflict was most ierce-I am not prepared to do.
! desire not to say more about South Carolina;
and in the that has been pursued, and which
it may be in plation to pursue, will only
say what il may be necessary, out of regard to my
personal position to say, and leave the other mat
| ters to rumnatc upon when occasion may require
| further opinion.
Mr. BUTLER. Mr.. President, hope may be
| permitted to say word in conncxion with some Of
the topics-and only some Of them-wh,ch have
| make rather structure upon the gentle
mans charges and remarks; at least shall not al
low him to take refuge in general defamation
try will bear me testimony that upon no occasion,
i either here elsewhere, have thought it mecca
sary to proclaim the praises of South Carolina, or
in bad taste to do 80, and have forborne il on all
occasions. have never, however, permitted my
self to submit tamely and willingly to deliberate
detraction and misrepresep taton.
Now, sir, SO far as regards General Wallace, l
intend to make an Issue that perhaps may be un-
| dersood by the country The Senator from Texas
deliberately, upon this floor. where Gen. Wallace
had not an opportunity to confront him, made a
! charge that Gen. Wallace was sent by Mr.. Calhoun
into Tennessee, into that assembly, under the guise
of espionage, TO bring about the organization Of
the Mississippi convention.
Il Mr.. HoUsToN. If the Senator will allow me, /
will mention to him that, in my remarks to-day,
have not alladed to Gen. Wallace, for the simple
reason that he never once entered my mind The
correspondence to which alluded that be-
, tween Gen. Hamilton and MIR. Gadsdcn.
MIR. BUTLER. The gentleman's explanation is
sufficient. had confounded the one with the
> other, and going to say that General Wallace
, acted in sef-defence, But the explanation being
made by the Senator it is sufficient, far Gene
. ! raj Wallace is concerned.
And with regard to MIR. Gadsden, il is not my
province to go out of the way and say any thing.
, But | beg leave to say word in reply to
T the Senator'S remarks about South Carolina. did
on this floor, in my place, and under as high re-
sponsibility ever spoke, declare, in the face o
the Senator himself, that what had been stated by
him before-to wit, that the people Of South Caro-
lima could not vote without property qualifica-