M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-04-04
Domestic TrOubIe nm rexas.

Domestic Trouble IN Texas.
GournOr Hotston's Protest Against he
Aets Of The State COnveatiOn.
Gen. uoaston has issued a lengthy
address 70 the people Of Texas, re.
.tiewing the proceedings of the Stare
Convention, which passed the ordi.
nance of secession aud declared his
seat vacant. lie refuses to take the
oath OF allegiance to the new govern
.ment, OF recognize il, because he be.
.lieves it has derived none Of the pow.
ers it Das assumed, either from the
people or the Legislature. The ad.
dress concludes as follows: ws:.~,-~,'-''- -'-'''
Fellow. citizens, in the hsnssf your
rights AND liberties, which, IbeRevs
have been trampledl upouy refuse to
take this oath. In the name of the
nationality ofSTexss,g + which has been
betrayed by this Conyention, refuse
to takethjs oath. In the name Of-the
Constitution Of Texas, which has been
trainpled u3on, 1,iefuse to take this
oath. In the name OF my own con,
science and my manhood, which this
COnventionc would degrade by drag.
I Iging before it, to pander to the malice
of my enemies, when by the Constitu-
tion the privilege is accorded me,
which belongsto the humblest officer,
to take my oath of Office before any
competent authority, refuse to take
this. oath. h.l.a.i. sr5. ,ails5
am ready to be ostracised sooner
than submit to usurpation, Office has
no charms for me, that it must be pur,
chased at the sacrifice Of nv con
science, and the loss ofmy selfrespect.
Hove Texas too we'll to bring civil
strife and blcndshed upon her To
avert this calamity | shall make no
endeavor to maintain my authority as
Chief Executive Of this State, except
by the peaceful exercise Of my func'
tions. When | can no longer do this,
| shall calmly withdraw from the
scehe. leaving the govern ment in the
hands OF those who have usurped Its
authority, but still claiming that am
| its Chief Executive.
expect the consequences ofmy re.
fusal to take this oath. Ny office will
be declared vacated. lfthose who os
tracise me will be but as true to the
interests Of Texas as L have endeavor.
ed to be, my prayers will attend thom.
Fellow. citizens, think not that |
complain at the lot which Providence
has now assigned me. 1t is perhaps
but meet that my career should close
thus. ! have seen the patriots and
statesmen Of my yoath, one by one,
gathered to their fathers, aud the
Government which they had reared,
rent in twain; and none like. them are
left to uuite it. once again. | stand
the last almost of q race who learned
from their lips the lessons Of human
freedom. ! am stricken down now
because Twill not yield these princi
pies which ! have fought for and strlIg.
Igled 70 maintain. The severest
pang isthat the blow comes in the
name ofthe State of Texas. / deny
the power ofthis Convention to speak
for Texas. / have received the blows
for her sake and am willing to do SO
again. T q bEQMEH
Lgrotest IN tAs name oftfs people
Of Teras against all the acts and do.
ings Of this C0Rventioh, and declarS
them nultGnd yOid! Isolemuly pro.
test against the act of its members,
who are bound by no oath themselves.
in declaring my office vacant because
refuse to appear before it and take
the oath prescribed.
h 1t has accomplished its mission, and
its chief Object has been fulfilled. II
to drive me from Office and defeat the
will Of the people, Is an honor, it may
wesr it. To prevent my having an
opportunity to send a message to the
Legislature, which meets on Monday
March IS, | am required to appear a,
its bar to-day and take the TEST OATH
Even Shylock granted the full three
days ere he claimed his pound Of flesh
The Conyention prescribed that time
as the limit, but lie President has beer
less gracious than Shylock, and clam
ors for tile bond ere etwod days are gone
1t am thus deprived of the poor priv
ilege of putting upon record my sen
timents, through refusal on the par
oftlre Legislature to receive my mes
sage, | will lay the same before th'
people, and appeal to them, as &c
clared | would do in my inaugural.
| sEr..a.ss.i SAM HOUSTON.