The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-10-21
From the Texas Presbyterian, Sept ~.
General ssul tioustoa's Speech


General sa", Aouston'. speech
In compliance with the request OF many OF our cnzens
our disng uished fellow townsman General Sam Hous-
ton addressed the people OF Walker county in The Pres
byerian church al this place. on last Monday Notice
that he would speak on that day having been gwen
through the papers, and Il being court day. there was
large concouTse OF people present The large chuen Ws
crowded The General spoke for hour and hall.
The deep attention that was paid interrupted only oy we
frequent ana loud applause OF the multitude atesea ,ne
delight with which all listened 10 The Distinguish ora
tor. Many thought the ablest speech lha hey uaa
heard him make. Olhers, who had never heaid MN
speak before had Their v,e hss
The last speech hears him make Always appears 10
be the best On this occasion his remarks were most
happy conceived and expressed IL has been happi
meas to hear him many occasions Perhaps we have
heard and seen and elt greater exhibitions oil his vast
powers but his speech on last Monday dis
,ngushed for profound thought, cogency OF argument
happy illustration, and for patriotic devotion TO the
Union OF the Satesa sentiment that pevaded II through
out Ii calm and statesmanlike speech, worthy OF
Sam Houston, worthy Of the position that he occupies to
the country. worthy OF the gallant people whose repre-
sentative he 49, and OF whose views and principles and
feelings he is emphacay the great mbodiment
In the outset, Gen Houston paid high and deserved
compliment 10 his noble colleague, Gen. Rusk He al
luded to their past services together in the early struggles
OF the country and spoke eloqueny Of their joint efforts
IN support OF the adjustment measures OF the last Con-
gress. He adveTted 10 his Oregon vote. He had been
abused for it, had been denounced as traitor, and held
up to the reprobaon OF mankind, when that vote was
given in strict accordance with the Missouri compromise
when the passage OF the Oregon bill was but reenact
gon Territory all lay above that line. The South did not
contend for the right carry slaves there Tina! matter
was settled BY the act OF 1920 All Oregon was then de-
clared 10 be free soil Besides, The people OF that Terri
tory, when they asked Tor government, peoned Con-
gress TO prohibit the introduction OF slavery there He
had planted himself upon the Missouri line OF SO 80 ;
he had adhered 10 that compromise regarding il as in
vested with the sanctty OF the constitution itself, until
had been abandoned and denounced by the South.
He voted, also, Tor The admission OF California For
this he had been denounced. California admitted
other States have been admitted The people adopted
a, republican form OF government; they had prohibited
slavery themselves. There was nothing in this repug
nant the constitution of the United States II was the
very principle that the democratic party had always
tended forthe principle that he had always commended
for and that he would always contend ior--,hat the
people have the right to make their own domestic and
municipal regulations and laws. 1t necessary for
the extraordinary state of thIngs-demanded it abso
lutey; the salvation of the people depended upon
the peace OF the Union itself perhaps its very existence
depended upon it. California was remote terrisory
it was rapidly populatng the character of the popula
ton was anomalous. great majority OF the people
good people. but there large in,ermixure CT
less characters, whom necessary ntimdae and
restrain by the strong OF the law The people needed
afforded by well regulated State government If that
had been denied them they wout not have been treated
as American citizens They would have felt II and
would it not have weakened their attachment 10 this
government Nay, who will say that such an act of in
Justice par-such disregard of their interests
and their rghs-mght not have resulted in remuneration
OF their allegiance to this government What, then,
would have been the result Could we have forced
them into subsection ! Could we have conquered them
way to preserve the Union it would have endangered its
existence We regard the people OF California our
equals. entitled 10 all the benefits and privileges and
blessings that enjoy
But. what stranger than all, he had been abused
for voting for the en-mlion proposition to Texas. 1t
his fate be abused-he had been abused for every
thing that be had done for the country. But he did
not look for it in ths instance He called coward
1t the battle OF San Jacnto II he was coward, he
was most unortuu ate for II had been his taie in
every battle that he had fought, to be severely
wounded He was called coward for the retreat from
the Colorado which proved the salvation OF Texas He
had been charged with treason in endeavoring sell
Texas to England and France, when these very ISLANDERS,
which he suffered 10 go abroad unconradicted about hi
n,rgues with these powers. one Of the tha
FASTENED on the contamination Of the great OF
annexation. he had been abused for veoiDg the land
BILL which was finally passed his head, and which
has tailed incacuabe evils upon the country. He
abused for veoing the bill in 1912. when it pro-
posed TO invade Mexico Some then thought that Texas
could conquer Mexico without men or means he thought
IL would require both When Uncle Sam undertook IL,
IL required nifty thousand and sixty millions of dol
lars He had been abused and denounced for these and
for ma2Spth,r things tina, he had done for Texas Blu
really i'd not expect to meet abuse for his agency IN
the settlement OF the boundary question: meas
augh with benefits to Texas and blessings to the
Union This part OF General Hous,on's speech yer,
interesting. He reviewed The history OF the boundary
question. Il was a clear calculation OF the whole sub.
ject. and the more interesting II disclosed much o.
his own private history in this conneSon that had
before been published.
General Houston disposed of the southern ullras and
northern fanatics very summarily He placed them IN
the same caegory--classed them together: they were
governed by different sentiments but they aimed at the
same object-a dissolution OF the Union. Fortunately
for the country, there but few OF them in either enc
OF the Union. The people at the North and South were
satisfied with the adjustment Of the slavery question
The country had nothing 70 appehend from the few rest
less spirits who sl enaeavorng 10 keep up the
agitation. They were powerless-for the sympaihies OF
the people were not with them
OF the disunionists in Texas those who opposed the
acceptance OF the ten-mion proposition Gen Houston
made equally hasiy work, He met their arguments
triumph ny, and expressed his surprise that there
any opposition TO proposition immensely advantage
made TO England. TO give her five millions Of dollars
TO secure recognition OF independence by Mexico
There appeared 10 be opposition to that measure. AT
another time Texas made overues 10 the United States
for annexation She willing 10 surrender all her
public domain condition that that government would
her, and assume the payment OF her debt There
opposition heard TO that proposition. But had
now made infinitely better bargan-we were in an in
fnely better position than would have been had either
OF the other propositions zen successful We had been
annexed--we had ten millions OF dollars and we still
had vast public domain OF one hundred millions OF acrel
What could we desrei Had not everything con-
sprsd 10 render us emnenty prosperous and happy
a people n And all this had been acquired without
single sacrifice OF principle honor our part and
without eopading in the least the interests OF sister
States OF the South. On the contrary Texas, while
gardiu OF her own interests, gave peace to the country
IL was upon the acceptance OF the proposition made TO
her that the whole system OF compromise turned She
had IN her power, by rejecting that offer. open
afresh the fearful agitation OF the slavery question
between the North and South She acted as be-
hnr nf hort ,t,t -