The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-04-19
Gov. HOuston's Address to
the People Of Texas.
Spirited Attack on the seoeu-
si0nists,
MANLY vINDiCATION oE mrs
POSITION.

]
! As it is already known, tho Texas Sc.
eesaion Convention, finding that Gov.
Houston would not be subscryicn, 70
their traitorous designs, procured the en-
dorscmcnt Of the Legislature 70 rcsolu.
ton declaring the Goycrnor's Office va
can't The Governor however. is not a,
oil frightened, as will be sCcn by his I'D
dress to the people Of Texas, the mos,
mportont part Of which we give below.
Ater referring to tho manner in which
he was elected, the Governor says:
When, on account Of the election oi
Mt. Lincoln to the Presidency orthe Uni
tod States ! was urged TO eau the I.ry-
islature, refused 10 do ~, until sue.
time as | believed the public intores u re-
quircd t. To all ! sRid, that if tho pco-
Plo desired the Legislature called, would
not stand in theirway. When satisfied
that the necessity existed, | called Il to.
Igcther, and upon its assembling, urqed
upon il the Importance Of immediate ac-
tion in reference 70 your relations with
tho United States and with respect to the
frontier and tho Treasury.
In tho meantime the Convention had
'hccn called, which assembled on the
I2Sth Of January. That Convention, be-
sides being revolutionary in lis character,
did not receive the sanction of the major
.ity Of the people. As the representa-
tive Of o majority, however large Il could
not claim the right to speak for the pco-
Iple. 1t was without the pale OF tho
Constitution and unknown 10 the laws
which had sworn % support. While
sworn to support the Constitution IL was
my duty TO stand aloor from all rcvolu-
.tionary schemes, calculated TO subycrt
the Constitution.
The people who werc free from such
solemn obligations, mi, h, revolutionize
ana thereby absolve me from mine, my
oath ony having reference 10 my acts in
the capacity Of their Chief Executive;
buy as sworn officer my duty was too
plain to be misunderstood. because 9TH
crs more lightly regarded tho bond they
made with Heaven, furnished me no ex-
cuse, it my conscience condemned the
act IL had believed that the time had
] come for re poluton, should have thrown
OF the burden of an official oath, resign
ed my oihcc, and as one of the people, a
ireo and Independent citizen, have aided
TO arouse my comtrymcn TO notion.
believed that tho Constitution and the
laws would provide a omody and there
fore was not ready for revolution.
REFUSAL TO SUBMIT.
The Legislature refused to submit the
Question Of our relations with the United
/ States Government 10 a direct vote of
the peoples but authorized the Conven-
ton to do SO. The Legislature having
recognized the Convention thus far, was
twllling TO sanction the act, because saw
that in no other way would the people
get an opportunity to express their will
did 50, protesting against the assump-
tion Of any other powers on the port Of
the Convention. knew full welltho de-
signs Of the leaders of that Increment.
| saw that in their hands neither consti-
tuition nor laws would bo sacred: aud
put upon record my refusal to sanction
any attempt on their part, 70 touch the
charter of your liberties or infringe upon
the right secured TO you by the men who
framed the State Constitution.
My worst anticipations as 70 the as
sumption Of power by this Convention
have been realized, To enumcruto all
It's usurPations would be impossible, as n
great portion Of their doings have been
in secret. This much have been reveal
ed.
II has elected delegates TO the Proyis-
ional Council Of the Confcdcratcd States
at Montgomery, before Texas had with
drawn from the Union, and who on the
I'd day Of March annexed Texas to tho
Confederate States and constituted them
selves members of Congress, when il
was not officially known by the Conyon.
tion until the 4th Of NJ r,h that majority
Of the people had voted in fyor OF Sc
cssson.
While portion Of the delegates were
representing Texas in the Congress Of
the Confederate States, two orthem. still
claiming to be United Stutes S nators,
have continued 10 represent Tcxus in the
United States Senate, under the Admin
istration Of Mr. Lincoln. an Administer
ton that the people of Texas have de-
clGred odious and not to DO borne. Yet
Texas has been exposed to obloquy, and
forced to occupy the ridiculIua altitude
before the world Of attempting TO main
tain her position as one Of the United
States, and at tho same time claims to
be one Of the Confederate Stutcs,
THE TEsr oAIH.
This Convention has deprived the poo .
| pie of Alright to know It's doings by hold
ing its sessions in secret.
II has appointed military officers and
agents under its assumed authority.
II has declared by ordinance that the
people of Texas ratfy the Constitution
Of the Prov isional Government Of the
/ Confederate States, and has changed the
State Constitution and established q
TEST OATH Of allegiance TO the Con-
'ederate States, requiring all persons now
in office 10 take the same, or suffer the
penalty Of removal from Office, and actu-
ated by spirit of petty tyranny, has re-
quired the Executive and aportion Of the
other officers at the seat Of Government,
10 appear at its bar 1t a certain hour and
take the same,
WHAT WILL RE THE REsULTi
Fellow citizens, have refused 20 rec
ognize this Convention. Ibeleve il has
derived none Of the powers which 1t has
assumed, either Of the people or the Leg
islature. ] believe il gully Of an usur-
patton, which the people cannot suffer
tamcly and preserve their liberties. II
am ready to lay down my life to maintain
the rights and liberties OF tho people of
Texas. am ready to lay down Office
rather than yield to usurPation and deg
radiation. -
Ihnye declared my determination to
stand by Texas, in whatever position she
assumes. Her people have declared in
favor Of separation from the Union. II
have followed her banners before, when
an exile from the land Of my fathers. II
L a. -