Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1860-01-11
Valealetory Of Coz. Runnela.

witness one Of those interesting periodical eyantt
which mark tho history, progress and devtInpt,
4 ment of n free election OF constitutional gov
eTnmcnt, 10 witness the transfer of honor and
, authority from those who have hcan entrusted
with the difficult and pcrpeXing cares OF Stitr
10 the hands Of others, who, hy election of tho
people, have been chosen % assume them. II
having been my Fortune 10 hold tho position
which am now about tn surrender, Tor the past
two years, custom rs well rs proper rcgr for
the occasion has seemed to require that should
p add my presence aud participate in the carcmo.
MES that are TO commemorate it, In performing
this task, let no one hG surprised ut the difficulty
find in arriving at that which shall at the Same
time hc appropriate and expressive ur my Own
sentiments, mr. let it be supposed that this li!-
tcu!ty and embarrassment arises from any lnu.-
ing oil reluctance nj tho surrender uf Il position
onyirOucd with GNi.ulties, which II hg. required
10 enlarged II sentiment uf sell sacrifice md go
mUrh frames and determination of purpose,
faithfully 10 encounter. There are thOs, wishin
the sound of my voice who know that the act #
to-day would have been voluntary on my part,
could have been permitted the free exercise "t
my own incliuatious bat hal they even been dir
leieut, and the Office UgGin earnestly desired,
should regard my position in defeat fur more for
sunatc and honorable than 10 have succeeded Mt
tho price Of principle and Il Surrender Of the
independence Of thought, or. by sweryin gone
iotu from that disntercstciucss Of action hy
which he who las imposed ON him high moral
and constitutional duties should alone he gov.
erued. 1t is not my intention to weary the pub
lie patience with recital of my long conneXiIn
with our public affairs, nor shall stDop To
vindication of its history from the miSrrpreScn.
tations with which it has been assulel. The
time and occasion is not prOpitious. The pur.
pore of the hour is to listen TO the cnuncation
| OF principle and policy from thos, who are to
take-not those who are about to yield position.
My own is already part and parcel Of the history
OF tho country, and it is for those who may seek
truth for their guidance to examine it and
Judge for themselves. AS Representative Of
the people, as the presiding officer Of either
branch OF the Legislature, or as the Executive
Of the State, have Ialtered in the peiormancc
OF no duty, changed no opinion, abandoned no
position, advanced no new theory, but consist
emily adhered to the same principles of State
and federal policy from the beginning Of my ca
recr to the present time {; striving only for the
present and future welfare and safety OF my State
and country.
1t has been well and truly said that " cansurc
is the taxes man pays the public for being en-
mcnt,', and without prosumng upon this myself,
ii could close my cyos to the truth, that the
recent change Of popular sentiment, is more to
be attributed to the name and fame of the aged
and eminent chioitain who sits before you, than
10 the course Of few iicautious presses aul pal-
ticaus who in The heat of par,izln STRIFE haga
iorsatnn Or disrogaTdel t4c psonriarios and
amenities OF life, / should thea gogGd that
change as truly suggestive of serious reflection
to those who may harr.fsrr sock p tread aha
thoruY path Of political lite IN Texas.
Two years ago on taking the oalH Of Office, |.
recommended the organization Of tho mil tia in
view Of the impending sectional difficulties as a
necessary measure 0. public defense only. it.
was not U,ga lavorah,y acted ON by the harall-
turc, hut sibs.0ouU events have fully ina.ifut
the recommendations IL is now clearly demon
stratcd by the history of the past five years that
deep unchanged determination exists in the
Northern States to assail our dearest political
rights, and if possible destroy our domestic in
stitutlons. This determination has its founda-
tion in a difference in the manners, feelings and
opinions of the Northern people upon the sub
.ject of negro slavery. They believe it to he a
moral, social and political evil. This belief
strengthened into conviction has been incorporn-
ted with and now constitutes the soul Of their
religion and the handspring of their morality
In the South, the great mass of the people en-
tertain opinions entirely opposite in their charac
ter, which are equally irrcvocabe and equally
amalgamated with our religion and morality
We therefore occupy the singular and anoma-
lous position Of two people differing in almost
everything calculated to promote peace, happi-
"''u +IS """ go. nvS ~ .t
people is actuatcd by a spirit Of aggression the
other standing upon the ramparts of the consti .
tuition. is actinr upon the defensive. and oskinr
only to be LET alone. 1t is unnecessary To recanit
ulate facts to substantiate these truths. nor that
the wide sntend conviction exists that we oro an
a terrible crisis. and that be,nc fora
warnsd we should be also forearmed. The his
tory of the world affords no example of two peO-
nIe So divided lone remaining under q common
goynr,ment or their own Voluntary occord
The trainers Of ours foreseeinr a chnnca of the
oninions and sentiments of its Different neonIe.
= attnmrtad bv LEAVING this and other ornstions Of
domestic n9,cv 70 the State govsrn,ncnts os
rnnct os rdrsshIs to avoid If nractieab bIn G,Irro