Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-02-09
Speech of Gen. Sam Houston,
Delivered at dustin, Novca6er 20, 1855

Il SPccSh VI Ocns SAM IiOustOus II
/ Delivered at dustin, Novcm6er 20, 1855
/ [coScLUDED.
| labored like daysman in the canvass which
brought Mr.. Pierce to the Presidency. / believed
that he would conduct the government on the
principles which il was conducted by Andrew
jackson, and as such urged his claims before the
people. He had the endorsement of the party
with which had acted because believe it imbo-
died the principles best suited to the admnistra-
tion Of national affairs. Did he In the very outset
OF his administration give earnest of that regard
principles which We had a right to look forg In
composing his cabinet he selected an able man to
the head of the State Department--one who had
been in the administration of Mr.. Polk, and sus-
tanned highreputation for capacity--a Democrat
| / believe who had never been known to depart
from the orthodoxy of its principles His next Sc
lection was Caleb Cushing, who took his start
believe In Massachusetts Legislature, and who
4 was subsequently in Congress. IL was reported
| that he invariably voted with Mr. Giddngs, of
Ohio, whilst he remained in Congress, who is an
abolitionist OF the ultra school It is said he yo-
ted for every measure introduced by Mr.. Giddings
relating to the subject of slavery during his service
OF four years in Congress. He too belonged to
what was denominated the "Tyer Guar )" was a
| Wing, and was taken into the cabinet of Mr..
Pierce for whRt reason the Democratic party could
| not determine, unless it was to suit the partiaty
and convenience Of Mr.. Pierce.
He then selected gentleman Of similar com
piexion and principles with those of Mr.. Giddings
and placed him at the head of the Interior Depart
ment-one who had cooperated with Mr. Giddngs
in Congress on the subject of slavery. The gen
tleman selected for the Post Office Department was
not known as q distinguished member of the Dem.
ocratic party, though he may have belonged to
that party. He had run for the office of Judge OF
the Supreme Court OF Pennsylvania, and had been
| ignored by his constituency by vote of Is, 900
| About his selection there have been various r,,-
mors connected with Bishop Hughes but as they
are newspaper matters, don't care at this partic
ular time to urge them upon the attention of this
numerous auditory. This is not all. He selected
Mr.. Jefferson Davis, gentleman of the ultra class
in the South, and placed him at the head of the
War Department | believe he does not claim to
be disunionist, but certainly was most violently
opposed to the Compromise Of 1850, and whilst in
the Congress of the United States his speeches sa-
vored Of the most ultra doctrines of the South.
1 believe he was the advocate of the Nashville
Convention, and at all events did not belong to the
jackson Democracy of the Union. An earnest Of
his capacity has been given to the people of Texas
by the protection of our frontier or rather its want
of protection. Since he was placed at the head of
the War Department have we received that atten-
| ton to which we were entitledg Has not our pro-
| perty been stolen? Have not our people been
murdered Is not the force on our frontier utterly
| ineficientg Whilst / was President of the Re-
| public OF Texas, was charged with delinquency
in giving protection to our frontier. was charged
with a want of sympathy with their sufferings and
though have taken clothes from my own person
| to give those have sent for their protection
was still charged with remissness. had not one
dollar appropriated by Congress to enable me to
keep force for their protection. TX
| My policy at last triumphed, and when annexa-
ton was brought about, for years our frontier had
been tranquil, and that tranquility did not change
| for years after annexation. Now look, my coun
/ trymen, at the condition of your frontier Eighty
thousand dollars were appropriated by the last
| Congress, and, in the expenditures of portion of
| that money, number of Indians have been COL
lected, and are prospering in their new homes;
/ whilst others from the opposite side of the Rio
Grande are destroying our citizens and their prop
| erty. -Four additional regiments were raised at the
last session of Congress. Ivoted against it. | am
/ opposed to standing armies. / apprehend no ben
| eft to our country from this increased force The
troops which are sent to our frontier are not Of
the character to give protection to our citizens.
! Infantry sent here, calculated to provoke
outrages upon citizens, and utterly inefficient
for their defence. have asserted on the floor of
| Congress, that one regiment of Texas Rangers
would be efficient in the defence of the from
tier, than the entire regular army stationed in
/ Texas sNIsa4s
II
| character sent, then we may expect some ben
eft TO result; but when men nnacquainted with
Indian warfare and character or only familiar with
4 military science, our people will be unprotected,
1 and the Indians will depredate upon us without
/ chastisement. ss ...he 5Isi
Fellow -citizens, / am not yet through with the
| administration. / viii next speak of Mr. Guthrie,
head of the Treasury Department, gentleman
for whom entertain high respect, and who was
considered the master-spirit OF the Kentucky De-
| mocracy. He, too, believe, was Union Demo.
| crat as well as well as Mr.. Marcy. / know of no
tant that they bore, and, therefore, | am disposed
\ to do them, rs well ss all others, Justice The
Secretary Of the Navy, Mr.. Dobbin, Of North Gar
oina, believe, was Of the secession school, and
not of the old jackson stamp Of Democracy. IL,
in this do him Injustice it is not my desire, as
wish to deal fairly with the character of each gen
| tleman of the administration In the administers
ton of the affairs of his Office believe he gives
general satisfaction, but if were to rely on the
intelligence Of the day as derived from the news
papers, am inclined to think that, in the action
| of the Naval Board, most hagrant injustice has
been done to many officers of the navy; and if
partiality has not been carried to an improper ex.
tent injustice has certainly Nbeen done TO many OF
1 the officers. But as this will be subject of ex-
animation will merely make hypothetical re-
mark. Now, sir the material composing the Cab
| met OF Mr.. Pierce, does il not eyince want of
consistency in its composition !?
Fellow-citizens, having got through with the
Cabinet, have something to say in relation to the
appointment of some Of our Foreign Ministers. Mr..
Soule was selected for the mission TO Spain. He
was native OF France, and had resided for some
years in the United States Whilst he was mem
Der OF the Senate he certainly expressed extreme
views on the subject of the Union. In France he
had entertained views of an ultra character and t
was not to be expected that he would entertain
conservative views in coming to country where
no restrictions were placed on the expression Of
| opinion. He was strongly opposed 70 the Compro-