The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-04

The Austin inielligencer, extra, Of Fab. 28th,
gives the following extract of letter, written by
General Houston to an old friend, setting forth
his views on secession:
Y on say it is reported that | am for secession.
Ask those who say so to point to word of mine
authorizing the statement. | have declared myself
10 favor OF peace, of harmony, of compromise, IN
order to obtain fair expression OF the will OF the
people. Dangerous may be the precedent in
augurated by the Convention, before the majesty
| of the law, which recognizes its power to submit
the question of disunion to the people, yield in
the same spirit that actuated Andrew Jackson, in
paying the fine arbitrarily imposed upon him at
New Orleans. i am determined that those who
would overthrow law, shall learn no lesson from
me-
| ! still believe that secession will bring ruin and
civil Yet if the people will it, | can bear it
with them. | would fain not be declared an
alien to my native home in old Virginia, to the
| scenes of my early toll and trumphs in noble
up the banner meath which | have revered, or
the Union which | have loved and cherished
| as the glorious and priceless heritage bequeathed
me by my fathers. Sxtyseven years of freedom
the recollectioHs of past trumphs and suffer:
ing, the memories of heroes whom | have seen and
knew, and whose venerated shades would haunt my
footsteps were to falter now, may perhaps have
made me too devoted to the Constitution and the
Union, but be it So Did believe that liberty and
the rights of the South demanded the sacrifice,
would not hesitate. | believe that less concession
to frame the Constitution would not preserve it.
! Thus believing, | cannot vote for secession.
have hesitated to say anything on this topic
because / desire the people to act for themselves.
My views are of record. Yet it is perhaps but
right that my old friends should know that the
charge that am for secession is false. If err in
holding on still to the skirts of my venerated old
mother Virginia, and the foster mother which ma
tured me from boyhood, glorious Tennessee, my
countrymen will forgive me, as they have forgiven
me for many other things | have DONE | am will
ling even to be called submissionist for their sake
! LETTER FROM MAJOR ANDERsoN-J. HAL Elliot,
of W ashington, addressed letter to Major Ander-
son few weeks ago. enclosing the copy of a SON
net entitled "Major Anderson" which appeared
last month in the Boston Journal He has receiy-
ed the following reply:
Fort SUMTER, S. C. February 20, 1861
j. Hal. Elliott, Blackstone, Mass.
My Dear Sir-Accept my thanks for your too
highly complimentary letter of the 18th inst, and
! sonnet dated January, 1861.
! Dark clouds still hang over our beloved land,
and as vet cannot discern that the wind is shift
| ing around to the clearing-up point. Still my
trust is firm in God | believe that He will give US
| light again; but as people must rely upon
| him, and not so much upon ourselves.
| look with great interest to Washington, and
trust that President-eect will surround himself
by the soundest patriots he find. The destinies
| OF our country depend, under the Divine Provi-
dence, greatly upon the course of policy his Cabi
net attempts to pursue.
| Thanking you for the heartfelt and affectionate
sentiments you utter in my behalf, and uniting with
| you in the prayer, with which your letter closes,
for our beloved country.
am, sir,very sincerely yours,