Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-02-24
SPEECH OF MIR. HOUSTON
of Texas.

of Texas.
Mr. Houston proceeded to address ID
Senate. lie said. that though vet unwoll, d
would close his remarks today fable 20 keo
his feet While he would do tins, he saw 70
urgency requiring the hasty passage of ihi
bill. He yesterday had pointed out tn
rights Of the Indians in the Territories, an
he still thought that the boundaries Of Kan
sas might be so run as to allow the lndlai
possessions to remain undisturbed. The Ia
dians never yet violated treaty. Wonli
the United States be less faithful to its obi
cations; lie was opposed to this policy @
removing Indians. He would have then
settle down and cultivate arts of civilization
lie knew man who in ten years would CIV
ilize every border Indian, with no more means
than the Government, during TINT period
would expcnd IN keeping up garrlsons and
troops 10 keep them in subsection. lie had
given he thought, sufficient reasons for vo
ting again.i this bill. lie was opposed tc
.un.ln- in one act tie three subjects Of Ne
braska, Kansas and the Missouri Comprom.
ise. Nebraska had sufficient population to
be erected into a territory Kanzas was ey-
clusively Indian territory, aud the repeal OF
the Missouri Compromise was fu.l Of evils.
His course upon the Missouri Compromise
was well known. He read letter, publish
ed in the Richmond Enquirer Of the 9Th
inst, in which his opposition TO this bin was
foretod and his reasons maligned IL it, he
was called a viper, &c. For the writer of
this letter he had no III will; be did MT hate
him he would not degrade himself to the
leval Of such an individual by saying that he
hid any hatred toward him. The write,
however spoke Of slime, and # he should
leave any in his track, he Ilonston) would
avoid it, ms he had frequently done on similar
occasions, by sirdng over it. He once had
some reverence for the Richmond Enquirer
H. first saw it when small boy in Rock
bridge Couu'y, Vrgni,, all then thought
il the only newspaper in the world. 1t was
then in other htnds and hid great influence,
and was much respected. lie claimed no
charity at the hands Of the Enquirer, nor OF
Virginia because he was born IN that State.
lie had never received commentator, re-
ward, or any other max Of favor at her
hands. But still he loved her as his native
State, and was proud to be able to saw that
from her mountain tops he first looked upon
nature, and from the fountains Of her streams
he had first Quenched his thirst For her
virtue he would laud her and Tor her mfr
mates hs would pity her lie would nevei
RAISE a psrrcldnl hand against her But b,
thought she had many sons who had beer
spoiled. lie was opposed, as he had SAID, 10
the provisions of tins bin relating to the In,
dams aud, IF there could be anything mor,
repugnant to him than those, 1t was the pro
vision repeating the Missouri Compromise
lie had always stood upon that Compromise
and in doing so, be had been sustained b.
the South, and the whole country. The Mis-
sour Compromise formed part Of the Consti
tuition of Texas, and he had ever supporte,
1t. He read long extracts from his speecl
on the Oregon bill, giving his reasons thei
for standing by the Missouri line. lie woul,
also stand by the Compromise of 1850. III
was now the only Senator in iha, body VIII
had voted for all the Compromise acts O
1850. Mr. Sturgeon Of Pennsylvania, VIII
was not now in the Senate was the only othe
Senator who had voted for them ALL In vol
ing for them, he (Mr. llouston) had nevc
supposed he was voting repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise. Those acts were pas
sed as fnalily to the Slavery agilalior
and as such had been Endorsed by the poopl
Of the United States, either by appreciate
or by aequieseence. If one compact was
be set aside, will it not be a justification /,
others hereafter to trample the other und,
foot Though it was said that party dii
tinctons 10 longer existed. be professed
be supporter Of the present Administr'
ton. lie intended to support the principle
upon which that Administration came int
power. Those principles were ayowod b
the Democratic candidates, IN their letter
accepting the nominations The 9Th res,
luton Of the Baltimore Platform declare
that the Democratic party would resist a
attempts. in or out Of Congress TO renew ii
Slavery agitation, IN whatever shape or 60
or that attempt should be made. The Pre-
dent in accepting that nomination, declare
he concurred in the resolution, not becau.
it had been adopted, but because of d
principle It contained Mr.. King, in b
letter, adopted the same resolution. On ii
Plstfurm he had supported them. and q
that Platform they had been elected. ii
stood now to resist the renewal Of the Sa,
agitation, by the attempt to repeal the Nj,
souri, Compromise, and in that position b
was justified by the principle avowed by d
President before his election, and the me
sage TO Congress. No candidate for q
Presidency who svowed his desire for Il
repeal of the Missouri act would have n
ceved the vote of a single State. III
measure had not been asked by the South
II would be disastrous 10 the South. III
bill would place a knife at the throat Of Il
South. Slavery il was admitted, could u
go to these Territories they would rema
free. Why then offer this bauble to Il
South He came into public life upon th
Missouri COMPROMISE. When he came
Congress, thirty years ago, it was then col
sidered a compact never To be broken. Sine
then great changes had taken place. OF Ii
300 members Of Congress then in atien
-snce, only three remained-Messrs. Beuto
Everett and himself The others had q
disappeared. The Presidents had come al