Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-04-09
NO. XIV.
Gov sHOuston's Protest Against the Acts of
the Texas Convention.

Gov. HOustOn's Protest Against the Acts OF
the Texas Convention.
General Houston has issued lengthy address
to the people of Texas, reviewing the proceed
ings of the State Convention, which passed the
ordinance of secession and declared his seat va
cant. The address concludes as follows:
Fellow-citizens, in the name of your rights
and liberties, which, believe, have been tram
pied upon, refuse to take this oath. In the name
of the nationality of Texas, which has been be-
trayed by this Convention, refuse to take this
oath. In the name of the Constitution of Texas,
which has been trampled upon, l refuse to take
this oath. In the name of my own conscience
and my manhood, which this Convention would
degrade by dragging me before it., to pander to
the malice of my enemies, when by this Constl-
tuition the privilege is accorded me, which be-
longs to the humblest officer, to take my oath of
Office before any competent authority, | refuse
to take this oath.
| am ready to be ostracised sooner than sub
nit to usurpation. Office has no charms for me,
that it must be purchased at the sacrifice of my
conscience and the loss of my self respect.
| / love Texas too well to bring civil strife and
Ibloodshedsupon her. To avert this calamity
shall make no endeavor to maintain my authors
ty as Chief Executive of this State, except by
the peaceful exercise of my functions. When
can no longer do this, shall calmly withdraw
from the scene, leaving the government in the
hands of those who have usurped its author
ity, but still claiming that | am its Chief Ex-
ecutive.
l expect the consequences of my refusal to
take this oath. My Office will be declared va
Gated. If those who ostracise me will be as true
to the interests of Texas as / have endeavored
to be, my prayers will attend them.
Felow-cltlzens, think not that complain of
the lot which Providence has assigned me. 1t
is perhaps but meet that my career should close
thus. have seen the patriots and statesmen of
my youth, one by one, gathered to their fathers,
and the government which they had reared rent
in twain and none like them are left to unite it
once again. / stand the last almost of a race
who learned from their lips the lessons human
freedom. | am stricken down now because will
not yield those principles which | have fought
for and struggled to maintain. The severest
pang is that the blow comes in the name of the
State of Texas. | deny the power of this Con-
venton to speak tor Texas. l have received
blows for her sake and am willing to do so again.
l PROTEST IN THE NAME OF THE PEO-
PIE OF TEXAS AGAINST ALL THE ACTS
AND DOINGS OF THIS CONVENTION,
AND DECLARE THEM NULL AND VOID
solemnly protest against the acts of its MEM
bers, who are bound by no oath themselves, in
4
appear before it and take the oath prescribed.
1t has accomplished this mission, and its chief
object has been fulfilled. If to drive me from
office and defeat the will of the people, is an
honor, they may wear it. To prevent my hav-
ing an opportunity to send message to the Leg
islature, which meets on Monday, March 18th,
am required to appear at the bar to-day and take
the TEsrloATH. Even Shylock granted the full
three days ere he claimed his pound of fesh.-
The Convention prescribed that time as the limit,
but its President has been less gracious than Shy
lock, and clamors for the bond ere two days are
gone. If am thus deprived of the poor privi-
| lege of putting upon record my sentiments thro'
refusal on the part of the Legislature to receive
my message, will lay the same before the peo-
pie, and appeal to them, as declared | would
do in my inaugural SAM. HOUSTON.
| Virginia Legislature.
| SATURDAY, March 3Oth-On Saturday the
Senate voted on and rejected the bill to aid the
Covington and Ohio Railroad. The vote was
afterwards reconsdered and the bill laid on the
table. The resolution fayoring the establishment
of line of packets between France and Virginia,
was adopted The General Appropriation bill
was passed also Senate bill for the relief of the
Orange and Alexandria railroad, as amended by
the House, and number of local bills At the
night session, the joint resolution for the relief
of the securities of P P. WINSTON late Sheriff of
r chmond, was laid on the table. In Executive
session, G. Dimmock was confirmed as Colonel
of Ordnance; B. G.. Baldwin as Captain of do,
and P. G. Ooghlan as Clerk of do.
| The House, at it's morning session, passed a
number of bills, mostly originating in the Senate,
and postponed indefinitely the consideration of
Senate amendment resembling Monday as the
time of final adjournment, and fixing on Thurs
day. The House joint resolution in regard to
| the movement of Federal troops and arms with
in this State, with Senate amendments thereto,
was considered and debated at some length. At
the night session, discussion was resumed, and
continued in one way or another till A O'Clock
Sunday morning, when the House began to vote
ON certain amendments, one of which, offered by
Mr.. Collier, striking out that part of the Senate
resolution requiring the Governor to call out
the militia, was adopted about o'clock shortly
after that time, quorum having been obtained,
the Senate amendment to House resolution was
passed.
MONDAY, April 1st-The Senate agreed to the
amendments adopted by the House to Senate
| joint resolution in regard to the removal of Fed
eral troops and arms across the soil of Virginia.
Messrs. Carter, Wckham, Marshall, johnson,
II. W. Thomas, Carraway, Stuart, Mckinney
and Townes, entered written protest against
| bu6 pdSSdSS VI IccOlutiOu, Dut luo DcudL0 re-
fused to spread the same on its journal. A sub
stitute for the Oovington and Ohio Railroad bill
was agreed to.
The House agreed to Senate amendments to
the General Appropriation Bill. The bill impo.
sing taxes for the support of government was
debated. The House agreed to Senate Joint
resolution continuing the session till the 4th of
April. .et -.ef
| TUESDAY, April 2nd-The Senate passed a
large number of bills, among them one authors
zing the Common Council of the city of Peters,
burg to declare what shall constitute an unlaw-
J ful assembly of negroes, and prescribe the
(pupishment therefor.
| The House passed Senate bills incorporating
the Central Savings Bank, OF the city of Rich
mond, and the town of Independence in Grayson
county. A substitute was adopted for the joint
| resolution passed by the Senate, which authori-
zes the Governor to contract for the manufacture
of arms. A bill was reported for the ircorpora-
tion of the Shooting Times Piece ~Manufactory,
| of Virginia. Senate amendments to the Ooving-
ton and Ohio Railroad bill were agreed to. 4
report from the Armory Commissioners was read
and ordered to be printed
Virginia Convention.
SATURDAY, March 3Oth-The debate was con.
tinued on Saturday, in Committee of the Whole.
on the pending propositions. Mr.. Flournoy ur-
ged the presenting of an uztimatuna to the North.
without Conference with the Border States -
| Mr.. Goggin spoke in favor of his own ordiranca
of secession, which looks to a re-constrnct;on in