The national Republican., 1861-10-15
THE POSITION OF GEN. HOUSTON, AS
DEFINED by HIMSELF.

ne hiCumOnu LiguTT, Oh rriuay labt CoU-
tains letter from Sam Houston, dated Sep
tember ls, which was written for the purpose
of defining his position, and in answer to an
article which he saw in the New York Herald,
about the 18th or 10th of August, which states
that Gen Houston has no sympathy with the
rebellion. In reply to this, he says:
"Previous to the act of secession by Texas,
aud whilst the measure was one OF argument
and opinion, my opposition to 1t was open and
avowed and my opposition to tue acts Of the
Convention was not concealed, but on all be.
coming occasions fully exp essed nor did |
cease that expression Of opposition to The
measure of secession until the people acqui-
seed in il, when /, as one Of them, unhesita-
tingly assented to this conclusion; since which |
time have attempt d to throw no impediment |
in the way Of this action; but, on the contrary,
have performed all the acts of q dutiiul aud
loyal citizen of the Southern Coniederacy
This was doing no more than what became me,
for have lived and acted upon the principle
that oil public officers should obey Tie will OF
their constituents, and all private citizens sup
port the Government which secures TO them
their liberties.
Whilst the Convention was in session, I pre-
sented communication to the Legislature, &C
com paDying resolutions forwarded to me by the
Executive of Tennessee, on the subject Of CO.
ercion. in which / denounced, unqualiie dly,
such measure of Federal policy; since then,
my opinion has undergone no change.
Had I been disposed to involve Texas in civil
| war; had it in my power. for was rendered
the aid OF seventy thousand men, and meana to
sustain myself in Texas, by adhering to the
| Union; bat this | rejected, and in return for
| the Offer, gave my advice to the Federal Gov
erpment, that wanted no money! desired
| no office, and wished for no troops; but If Mr..
Lincoln was wise, and wished TO confer bene-
| fit upon the country, be would evacuate Forts
Pickens and Sumter, recall oil the Federal
troops from Texas, and not take the counsel of
such man as Gen. Scott or bis Administration
would be disgraced Nowths Standing this,
when my message was reported to Mr.. Lincoln,
| by his own messenger. it appeared that he did
not believe that his agent had been faithful in
the discharge OF his trust in reporting my opin.
ion. So stl ong was this belief, thai he imne
diately resolved to send another messenger and
| troops to the South.
NV only son-above the years of childhood,
and he is only stripping OF eighteen-attached
himself to the first company that was raised in
the neighborhood he has been mustered into
service for during the war, and is discharging
the duties of soldier equipped to meet the
| enemies of the Southern COnfederacy and, in
addition to this, no less than four nephews have
enlisted for during the war, and are now on thcir
march to Virginia l might cite these an evi
dences in vindication of myself If / chose 30 to
do, but such is not the object; it is merely
done for the qualification of boasting q little,
and to let those who were most forward iu Sc
cesson see whether they have done more than
l have, and am willing TO do, for the Southern
Coniederacy. Aud more than this, | have three
other nephews who have been in Virginia from
the commencement of the war; with the other
Southern troops.
The time has been when there was power
full Union sentiment in Texas, and willing
ness on the part of many true patriots to give
Mr.. Lincoln fair trial in the administration
of the Federal Government.
! These times have passed by. If there is any
Union sentiment in Texas now, l am not ap-
prised of it.
When The millions of Persia invaded Greece,
the Spartans were not more united in defence
of their country and liberties than is Texas
united in support Of the Southern Contederacy
Mr.. Lincoln aud his Cabinet have usurped
: the powers of Congress, and have waged war
, against the sovereign States. and have there
, by not only absolved the States, but all the
t people of the several States from their allegi,
! ance to his government, the Federal Govern
t ment having ceased to exist by bis acts of usurp
! alton. He has through his officers suspended
l the writ Of habeas corpus, the bulwark o
;, American liberty, and proclaimed martial law
in sovereign States. III am to rely on the
current intelligence of the day, he has, through
I his Major General, Nj. John g. Fremont pro
I claimed martial law In Missouri, and assumed
the civil administration Of the affairs Of tba
State thereby ignoring the Constitution anG
!, setting at naught the sovereignty of the peo
pie, and has in fact, with more than Vandaiic
u malignity and Gothic hate, sought to incte a
servile insurrection in that State. If the las
feather had been wanting TO break the cameri
!, back this act of atrocity would have supplied
it. His acts and feelings are such as have
i never failed to characterize the heart Of {
renegade.
9 If Mr.. Lincoln, as he was the aggressor, b,
! invading the soil Of a sovereign State aut
causing the blood of her sons to be shcd
y. even in the neighbolhood of the sacred re
u mains of Washington, alter having becOm
President upon a sectional issue, in derogatior
of the teaching of his farewell address, wishe
E to make reparation for the wrongs i,hicted, b
! has but one course left, and in my opinion
y that course is to propose an armistice that sha
II withdraw all the Federal troops from Virginia
q suspend the action of the Federal forces in al
y the Southern States, and the Confederate au
thorities at the same time guaranteeing tina
. they will not advance their troops into any ter
ritory not occupied by them until the meetn
of the Confederate and Federal Congresses q
Z their next session. should this course be pul
N sued, there is little doubt but that the goo
G sence and patriotism of the two section
e would adopt such measures as' would restor
IS peace, arrest the further destruction of huma
II life, and restore to great extent the prosper
y ity of the two sections for it cannot be imae
70 ned that vain hope OF restoring the Uuio
Il C IN ever be realized.
p The South can never re-unite with the Nortf
III nor can the North entertain any rational hop
a. of her subjugation. The sooner war is ended
the greater will be the probability of establish
ing friendly relations between the sections
and this cannot fail to promote the mutua
ar prosperity of both. Should this be disregardcG
s. a terrific responsibility must rest upon tn
is heads of those who interpose power or author
ts ty to its consummation.
e, Trusting that no further misapprehension (
is my opinions and feelings may be sntertaine
ID by any one, hive been thus explicit, and sui
init them for what they are worth to the worl'
Very truly, your friend,