Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-10-30
The Position Of General Houston as De
fined by Himself. -


contains letter from Sam Houston, da-
ted September Is, which was written for
the purpose OF defining his position, and
in answer to an article which he saw in
the New York Herald, about the 18th or
10th Of August, which states that General
Houston has no sympathy with the rebell-
ion. In reply to this he says :--Phfa.
Press.
Previous to the act OF secession by Tex.
as; and whilst the measure WIS one of
the argument and opinion, my opposition
tolt was open and avowed and my oppo
siuon 70 the acts of the Convention was
not concealed, but on all becoming occa-
sions lhllg expressed, nor did cease that
expression OF opposition to the measure
secession until the people acquiesced in it,
when as one of them unhesitatingly
assented to this conclusion since which
time have attempted to throw no i'm
pedlment in the way of this action, but.
on the contrary, have performed all the
acts Of n dutiful and loyUl citizen of the
I Southern Confederacy. This was doing
no more than what became me, Tor have
lived and acted upon the principle that
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.
i presented communication to the Leg.
islature, accompanying resolutions for
warded TO me by the Executive of Tenn
essee, on the subject of coerson. in which
| denounced, unqualiticdly, such a meas.
ure of Federal policy. Since then, my o.
rinion has undergone no change.
Had been disposed to involve Texas
in civil war, | had in nv power for was
rendered the aid of seventy thousand men,
ana means to sustain myself in Texas, by
adhering to the Union but this reject,
ed, and, in return for the offer. gave my
! advice to the Federal Government that |
wan ed no money, desired no Office, and
wished for no troops but If Mr.. Lincoln
was wise, and wished to confer benefit
upon the country, he would evncuate
Fort Pickens and Sumpter, recall ali the
! Federal troops from Texas and not take
the counsel Of such man as General
Scott, or his Administration would be dls.
graced. Notwithstanding this mhen my
message was reported to Mr.. Lincoln, by
hi< own messenger, it appeared that he
did not believe that his agent lad been
faithful in the discharge of his trust in
repor ing my opinion. SO strong was this
belief, that he Immediately resolve 10 send
another messenger and troops to the
South.
MY only son-above the years Of cliild>
hood, and nc is only a stripping OF eigh.
teen-attacheI himselfto the first compa-
ny that was raised in the neigh borhool
he has been mustered into service tor du>
ring the war and his discharging the du-
ties of n soldier equipped to meet the en-
emies of tEe Southern Conredercy and,
in addition 10 this, no less than four nephS
ews have enlisted for durug The war, aad
are now on their march 10 Virginia.
might cite this as evidences il vindication
of myself. if chose so to do, but such is
not the object It is merely done for the
qualification of boasting little and to let
those who were most forward in Secession
see whether they have done more than
have, and am willing to do, for the South
ern Confaderacy. And more than this
have three other nepheS5 who have been
in Virginia from the commencement Of
the war with the other Southern troops.
The time has been when there was
powerful Union sentiment in Texas, and
a willingness on the part Of many true pa
triois to give Mr. Lincoln fair trial in
the administration of the Federal Govern
ment. These
times have passed by. If there is any
Union sentiment in Texas now, | am not
apprised ofit.
When the millions of Persia invaded
Greece the Sparltans were not more uni
ted in defence of their country and liber-
ties that is Texas united in support OF the
Southern Conlederacy.
Hoy. JouS BELL.--A Nashville Tenn,
correspondent thus writes Of this gentle
man:
His lot is that Of complete political so-
lalion. He stands unreconcied to the
present. and parted with the past, The
leaders in The false catse that brought
about his fall had no honor, no sym pathy
for him, while those that once clung to
his political fortunes have grown inditier-
, ent and lost their trust in hin. And thus
he lives an unenviabe lonesome hope
less existence, embittered, beyond all
doubt, by the consciousness of having, by
one false step, inflicted a stain upon his
record that obscures all glory OF his past,
and can never be fully wiped out
To appreciate all this it must be known
that John Bell-his public remuneration
of loyalty to the Union to the contrary
notwiths,anding-- really neither heart
nor hand in the great Southern rebellion.
He goes with his section, not because he
thinks it is right, but because it is his Sec
ton. lie believes, or at least expresses
the opinion, that the "war of subjugation"
undertaken by the North is wrong, but on
the other hand, loses no opportunity in
declaring the Southern revolution unjus'
tilted Whenever he visits places of pub.
lie resort he takes occasion TO denounce
the jefferson Davis dynasty in unmeasu>
red terms.
4 His past public services secure him inns
munity from the consequences this offense
would entail upon any other person. but
render him at the same time unpopular
among the thorough going rebels. The
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