Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-04
Position of GEN. Houston.


MESsRs. EDITORS OF THE CIvILIAN-GeRtte-
intentionally had hoped that in retirement,
after a public life of more than forty-eight
years, would have been permitted to enjoy
rest and tranquility in the bosom of my fami-
| ly, and where my friends would always find
my rustic hSme accessible to calls of friend
ship; but in this | have been disappointed.
For some time past | had heard that my po-
sition had been referred to by editors in diff
fcreut parts of the country, and that my pro-
cllvities were also referred to as favoring CO.
ercion by Mr.. Lincoln. In confirmation of
this fact the following extract from the New
York Herald has been brought to my notice
by friend:
STILL HANKERING AFTER TEXAS-A dis
patch of the 18th from Washington says:
Reliable private advices from Texas, da-
ted the 23d ult, represents the Union senti-
ment as rather on the increase, and this be-
comes evident as the true state of the agita-
ton is better understood; and further that it
would extensively be manifested should Fed
eral protection be afforded against the OPP
pressons of the disunionists. The newspa-
pers of that State have perverted the state
ments made by Gen. Houston from time to
time as it is positively known that he has no
sympathy with rebellion. At last accounts
he was in quiet seclusion on his farm, await
ing events"
By this you will perceive that my name
has been unwarrantably referred to, and nv
present attitude most egregriously misappre-
hended or wantonly misrepresented. Previ-
GUS to the act of secession by Texas and
whilst the measure was one of argument and
opinion, my opposition to it was open and
avowed and my opposition to the acts of the
Convention was not concealed, but on all be-
coming occasions fully expressed, nor did |
cease that expression of opposition to the
measure of Secession until the people acqui-
esced in it, when /, as one of them, unhesita-
tingly asseDted to this conclusion; since
which time / have attempted to throw no
impeachment in the way of this action; but Oh
the contrary have performed all the acts of a
dutiful and loyal citiz 81 of the Southern Con-
federacy. This was doing no more than what
became me. for l have lived and acted upon
the principle that all public officers should
obey the will of their constituents and all
private citizens support the Government
which secures to them their liberties.
Whilst the Convention was in session pre-
sented a communication 10 the Legislature,
accompanying resolutions forwarded to me
by the Executive of Tennessee on the subject
of coercion, in which l denounced unqualifi-
eddy such measure of Federal policy; since
then my opinion has undergone no change. /
have seen no necessity, nor have any desire,
to see my name paraded in the newspapers,
either as a speech-maker or a correspondent.
In these matters my occupations gone,"
and / now write for the purpose of rem owing
any delusion that may be resting upon the
minds of friends or enemies / AM aware that
many honest minds have been deluded by
the publications of editors in this State, who
have slaEdered me unscrupuiously, some for
eighteen years, and all of them since their
advent into the country as l believe, because
they were ambitious and wished to become
istinguished, and if they should fail in this
from lack of talent they would at least
have the satisfaction of becoming notorious
by connecting their opposition and abuse
with my name. A trio at least of these edi-
tors came from far north OF Mason and Dix
on's line, and no doubt were of an ultra
stripe in the North; it was natural enough
then that they should become extremists IN
the South and opposed 10 the conservatism
which l have always maintained and adVoca-
ted up to the present crisis OF our country;
and now L am conservative because L am
maintaining our sovereignty and indepen-
dence, as / believe we are entitled to II and
capable of sustaining it.
Had l been disposed to involve Texas in
civil war had it in my power, for was ten
dered the aid of seventy thousand men, and
means to sustain myself in Texas by adher
ing to the Union; but this / rejected, and in
return for the otter i gave my advice to the
Federal Government that wanted no money
Il desired no Office and wished for no troops,
but if Mr.. Lincoln was wise and wished to
confer benefit upon the country, he would
evacuate Forts Pickens and Sumter, recall
all the Federal troops from Texas, and not
take the counsel of such men as Gen. Scott,
or his Administration would be disgraced.
Notwithstanding this, when my message was
reported to Mr.. Lincoln by his own messen-
ger, it appeared from confidential letter-wri-
ters in Washington that be did not believe
that his agent had been faithful in the dis
charge of his trust in reporting my opinion.
To this conclusion he was led, no doubt, by
the editors referred to, piling and repeating
the charges upon my reputation OF abolition
and treason to the South. So strong was his
belief, as stated by the writer, in these SLAM
ders, that he Immediately resolved to send