The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-04-04
GOV. HoUsTON's ADDRESS To THE
PEOPLE OF TEXAS.
Spirited Attack on the Secessionists.
MANLY VINDICATION Of his POSITION

Spirited Attack on the Secessionists.
MANLY VINDICATION Of his POSITION
As is already known, the Texas Ssces
sion Convention, 6nding that Gov. Hous
ton would not he subservient to their trai
tOrOds designs, procured the indOrssmen
Of the Legislature to resolution declat
ing the Governors Office vacant Th,
Governor, however. is not at all frighten
ed, as will be seen by bis address to th,
people Of Texas. the most important par
Of which we give below. After referinl
to the manner in which he was elected
the Governor says C;taac;;1nati Gazette.
When, on account of the election OF Mr.
Lincoln 10 the Presidency of the United
States, was urged to call the Legislature
refused 10 do SO. until such time as
believed the public interests required it
To all said, that il the people d. sire til.
Legislature called, would not stand il
their way When satisfied that the ne
cessity existed, l called it together, and
upon its assembling. urged upon i, tn,
importance OF immediate action in refer
+ ence to your relat,ons with the United
States aud with respect to the frontier anC
the treasury.
In the mean time. the Convention haC
been called, which assembled Oh the 28tI
Of January. That Convention, besides
being revolutionary ir its character, di,
not receive the sanction of a majority O
the people. As the representative of
minority, however large, it could no
claim the right to speak for the p4opie -
1t was without the pale Of the Constitu
tiOn and unknown 10 tie laws which
had sworn to support. While sworn Il
support the Constitution, it was my duty
to stand a'oof from all revoluionar,
schemes, calculated to subvert the Consli
tuition.
The people who were free from sue
solemn obligations, might revolu,ioniz
and thereby absolve me from mine. IN
oath only having reference to my acts i
the capacity of their Chief Executive: bu
~s "a sworn officer my duty Was too plai
TO be misunderstood. Because others NOR
| lightly regaid ded the bend they made wit
Heaven. furnished me no excuse, if m
conscience condemned the act. II ha
! believed that the time had come for revc
n luton, should have thrown off the bur
den OF an official oath, resigned my offic,
a and as one of the people. free and ind,
pendent citizen, have aided 10 arouse m
countrymen to action. | believe that til
q Constitution and the laws would provid
I remedy, and therefore was not read
for revolution. ...
REFUSAL TO SUBMIT.
The Legislative refused to submit th
, question OF our relations with the Unite
States Government to direct vote Of tn
people; but authorized The Convection I
do 30. The Legislature having recognize
the Convention thus far, was willing t
sanction the act. because | saw that 10 u
other way would the people get an oppol
tunity 10 expess their will. l did so, pre-
Q testing against The assumption Of an
5 other powers on the part Of the COnveI
. ton. | knew full we'll the designs oil ii
: leaders of that movement. / saw that,
their hands, neithe, Constitution mol law
p would be sacred; and put upon recol
4 my refusal 10 sanction any attempt, c
e their pa,t, TO touch the charter of yol
9 liberties or infringe upon the rights $
b cured to you by the men who famed Ii
Slate Constitution.
My worst anticipations as to the a
S sumption of power by this COnvenliC
e have been realized To enumerate a
1t its unsurpatis would be impossible as
great portion of its proceedings have BET
IS in secret. This much has been reveale
n 1t has elected delegates to the Provi
il nal Council of the Confederate States
Montgomery, before Texas had withdraw
from the Union, and who on tue Cd di
j. of March annexed Texas to the Confet
e crate States aud constituted tlemsclv
II members Of Congress, when it was Il
d officially known by the Convention ph
Of the 4th Of March that majority Of Il
nt pc ople had voted in favor of Secession.
N While portion Of the delegates We
8. representing Texas in the Congress Of 4
,r Confederate States. two of them, still clair
Is ing to be United Sta es Senators, ha
Of continued to represent Texas in the Ur
i'd ted States Sepate, under the Administr
W ton of Mr.. Lincoln, en- Administrsti'
II that the people Of Texas have declar
10 odiou5 and not to be borne. Yet Tex
~ has been exposed 10 obloquy. and fore
lr 10 occupy the ridiculous attitude befo
III the world of attempting 10 maintain h
ID position as one oflhe Uniled States, al
to at the same time claims 10 be one Of t
" Confederate States. .......
er THE TEST OATH.
~ This Convention has deprived the pc
I'd pie vf right to know lis dOiDgs by hol
~ ing It's sessions in secret.
I'd 1t has appointed military officers a
r. agents under its assumed authority.
or 1t has declared by ordinance that
or people OF Texas ratify the Constitution
m the Provisional Government Of the CC
MS foderate States. and has changed the ST
ne Constitution and established TIE
8. OATH of allegiance TO the Confeder
at States. requiring alrpersons now in Of
n to take the same. or suffer thu penalty
n, removal from office :; and actuated BY
he spirit of petty tyranny. has required
id Executive and portion of the other
ne 6cers at the seat Of Government to app
at sbat at-a>cerlsih hour aud take