The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-12-19
OLD SAM. HOUSTON.

A letter from Sam Houston, in reply to the
demand that he call convention for the pur
gose of taking Texas out of the Union, is pub
ished. He says:
If the Union be dissolved now, will we have
additional security for slavery? vii! we have
our rights better secured? After enduring
civil war for years, will there be any promise
of a better state of things than We now en-
joy? Texas, especially has these things to
consider. Our treasury is nearly empty; we
We have near half million of dollars II
the treasury of the United States Bonds; we
have on extensive frontier to defend. Pecu
mary or personal considerations ought to
weigh nothing when tyranny is in the scale;
but are we justified in sacrificing these when
we haye YET the Constitution to protect us, and
our rights are secure? Let us not embrace
the higher law principle Of our enemies, and
overthrow the Constitution, but when we have
to resist, let it be in the name of the C9nstitu-
tion and to uphold it.
Why this military display and call to arms
in Texas? Have we enemies at home, or Is
an army marching upon US q?
When was there the time when the ciGizens
Of the country were not ready to flock to its
standard in its defence? Are the people to
deliberate on this question with military
despotism in their midst ready to coerce
them
X X x
I need not assure you that whenever the
time shall come when we must choose between
a loss of our constitutional rights and revolu-
ton, shall choose the latter; AID if l, who
have led the people of Texas in stormy times
of danger hesitate to plunge into revolution
now, it is not because l am ready to submit to
Black Rept blcan rule, but because L regard
the Constitution of my country, and am de-
termined to stand by it. Mr.. Lincoln has been
consttutionally elected; and much as depre-
ciate his success, no alternative is left me but
to Weld to the Constitution. The moment
that instrument is violated by him, will be
foremost in demanding redress, and the last to
abandon my ground
So long as the Constition is mai. tanned by
"federal authority" and Texas is not made the
victim of "federal wrong" 1 am for the
Union it is.
L am now ap aged man. My locks have be-
come white in toilng, as 1 believe, for the
liberties of mankind. Were 1 young. that
might look forward to the future, feeling that
whatever danger might come, my strong arm
would be at hand, to defend lny family, l
should feel less anxiety than 1 do at present.
The years thai will have to endure the mis-
fortune of civil war are but few. If could
feel that with the close of nay career would
end the miseries Of my race, | could share its
misfnrtunes with patience; bEt to feel that the
perils of revolution must continue, that war,
with its attendant horrors of bloodshed, rapine
and deyastation, must still be visited upon it,
would embitaer my last moments, and after
living to witness the demolition of the best
government that ever existed, would sink to
the grave without hope that freedom would
be regenerated. or our postcrity ever enjoy
again the blessings with which we had parted.
Let US pause AID ponder well before we take
any action outside of the Constitution.