New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-28

to Gen. Houston by j. 9 Calhoun ,oDuisslOisF lIVHi
Alabama; -
To he Hoz J. NJ CArHors. Comni,,aner nor ILabd11.
DEAR SIR: Your communication OF Tue 9th inst In.
forming me Of TIE object Of your mtiOn on tie part OF
Alabama, Is before ne.
Asa citizen u sister State bearing an appointment
Of Commissioner 81 Texas from her Chief Executive l
welcome you here, and trust that Whatever ideas you
may GdOpI in reference 20 the political ogDlous u tbc
psole Of Texas you may bear back with you the evil
dences u their kindHes, hospllli1y, and friendship:
Having convened the Leg,lature Of the State with
a view 10 its providing mode by which the Will o
ihe people Of Texas may be dCeb.Fed touching their
relations with the Federal Government and the states,
cannot authoiiaiyely speak as 10 the course they
will pursue. fair and legitimate expression Of their
will through the ballot box Is yet 70 be made known.
Therefore were the Legislature in session, or were
legally authorized Convention in session uIai he nc-
ton taken is ratified by the people al the balDtboN,
none can Il eak Tor loAao her leoie nave ever %,
Jealous of their gt and lave been careful how they
parted with the attributes Of their sovere guiy. 1hey
will reserve 10 themselves The rzbt TO finally Piss
upon the act Involving 70 closely her liberties, for-
tuDes, peace, and hGgilness and whea, through the
free eXCre Of tLBt sacred privilege which has ever
until now been deemed tie beat security for the lib
critics Of the people and the surest means Of remcdyng
1neTCGchments upon their nights, they have drclrcd
their WILL then, and then only, can ANY speak Tor
Texas Until tLon, nothing but individual opinions
can be expressed, and nine are entitled to no more
weight Than long acquaintance with tie peoye qd
ao,-.it-ed .t-.se~s.~ cad N"'~4~iieo'ioh wan tSeH
would Justify.
That there is difference Of opinion existing in
Texas in relation 10 the course necessary 10 p1rue 10
tlis peIiOj none can DEM. CnIzenT, alike dsiin-
eD.Lsd tor tleir worth and public services, hold oppO
Site We've; and while all united in the deieTgns-
ton 10 maintain constitutional lights they dier
Is to the mode Of accomplishing the sane la thus 10
not include that kcss and cliSli Close who, moved
by pcrsopal ambition or a dcirc for Office or spoil de-
ire a change Of government IN the hope tht aggrn'
dizemeut will attend them.
belieye however, that large majority OF the peO-
rle Recognizing the obligations the! owe 10 me border
States Who have 70 long stood as barriers ASill. Nc
assaults OF Abolition IN, desro 20 concert sn meas
ures ~ will not only conduce 10 their safety but the
benefit OF the tire South AS Executive Of The sta
have deemed it my duty TO pre-tnt to the other
Southern States proposition Tor consultation, ni'ini
that object IN view. Alabama has not yet responded
10 the same and although the tenor Of yoar letter in'
dcates hat bhe viii pursue diiioren! copre, trust
that when the great interests at stake hTe duly consio
cred bv her people, they will determine to JON with
Texas and majority OF The Southern Ssses III "a non
est ard determined effort 10 obtain redress FOR The
grievances which the North has put upon us ere they
tako the fatal step which, in my Opinion, nliDaiey
involves iyil and the ruin Of our iu-.i.lti3ns
not If liberty itself.
II Alabama has been the irt 70 move IN The direc-
ton which may possby result IN the severance oi ~
connection with the Feoeral Government, It j. mat
ter Of aide TO ne tia. Texas has iii this time OF Pei1
been the rst TO move in that direction calculated TO So
cnre Southern unity and co0pera1a. Texas ~ the
Only ne OF the States vi ich possesee< ere hereonne'
ton v ith the Union, full aud complete AyeFegnly.
Though sic brought an empire into the Lulon, ana
added vastly to the area Of Slavery, che arrogaies to
herge no epecal privileges has she yet consulted
ber own safety or interest save in common with that
OF the entire SOuth. Knowing the Obligations winch
lie took upon berself when she came into he Union
the Las thns far shown desire 70 relieve be'se from
those OBLIGATIONS until IL manifest thHt tie compact
made with her will not be observed. Having made an
effort IN concert with Der lister slaveholdmg S,aee
TO iecure tho Observance Of that conIac ana laed IN
that effort 1. would then be her pride 10 fnk all con-
alterations prompted by her ambition and share
common late with them but IL, on tho contrary, they
consulting heir OWN interests and Their Own lpe!"
ti,ps neither seeking aef counsel or partion cs
eepaTa,ely and alone, aud abandon Union aid Q
Go, erI M Mt a which she YET forms part TeSn' VIII
unClfs ly fought the good Of the whole south, aud
Will pursue tia. which her pride and her ancient
char scter mark out before her.
We're permitted 70 trust lone to the tenor on the
first tart OF your communication and had you given
me DO assurance Of the sct that. although Alabama
desires 10 assure her sister hhycholdDg States tbat
she fees that her interests are tho same VII, thelf'
and that a destiny must b. the same 70 al,
vet that the WILL thro, gh her Convention, which nf-
ten,tles to day, the 7th inse, Withdraw IRON tho
present urion and ttko her position an sovereign
State" i could give yon moro assurance OF my CO.
operation as Executive Of ToKas, with Alabama, IN
the present emergency. Should Aaoana' "hN gus
waiting for the ACTON ri IcAAs, Withdraw from tle
Ulion and TeXas, by To force Of circumstances, Dc
compeed, al a fut ire period TO provide for her own
safety tLe oonrfe OF Alabang, South Carohna, an
such ot:er States a. may follow thsir lead, will but
strengthen tho conviction, already strong among, our
people, that their inteIest viii heed thom TO AVOID en-
ai aiin alliances ana enter once again uf national
career 4 No ctiQ wcnld then exist upon TeXes, ior
bar eo6peration has not been deemed important at
time when il Was essential 10 her safety; and he;
,tsteeuen will deem Tint she violates duty 70 the
South In Gflrlipg once again her Lone Star banner,
AID main tabing her position among the independent
nationa of the earth II the Union be dissolved and
tho gloomy foTebodipgs OF patriots be realized IN the
ruin and OWL war 20 follow, Texas can tread tho
vine press alone in the day Of her misfortune, even
The effort 20 maintain liberty snd her institutions upon