Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-10-18
The Position of Gen. Houston, as De-
fined by Himself


contains letter from Sam Houston, dated
September Is, which was written for the pur-
4 pose 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 Gen. Houston has no SYM
pathy with the rebellion. In reply TO this,
he says:
Previous to the act of secession bv 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 assented to this conclusion; since which
time have attempted to throw no impediment
in the way Of this action; but, on the contra
ry, have performed all the acts of dutiful and
loyal citizen of the Southern Confederacv.
This was doing no more than what became me,
for have lived and acted upon the principle
that all public officers should obey the will of
their constituents, and all private citizens sup
port the Government which secures to them
their liberties.
Whilst the Convention was in session,
presented communication to the Legislature,
accompanying resolutions forwarded to me by
the Executive of Tennessee, on the subject of
coercion, in which denounced, unqualifedly,
such a measure of Federal policy since then,
my opinion has undergone no change
Had | been disposed to involve Texas in
civil war, had it in my power, for was ten
dered the aid of seventy thousand men, ard
means to sustain myselfin Texas, by adher-
/ ing to the Union but this rejected. and in
return for the offer, gave my advice TO the
Federal Government, that wanted no money
i 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 ali
the Federal troops from Texas and moi tal1e
the counsel of such man as Gen Scott or
his Administration would be disgraced. Not
withstanding this, when my message was re-
ported to Mr.. Lincoln, BY dis own messen ar
! it appeared that Ii. did NOT bel;ava tLot III
AGENT had been faithful in Tho d;soharoo IS
| his trust in reportino INV oninion So strorr
was this belief tbnt no ;mpmad;ato,,' $500
TO send another MESSENGER and troors 70 H.
South
"My only son-above the vaars Of cb;ld-
! hood, and he is only a striplino of eighteen
attached b;mself ,o tbo a.. e ~, ~ .t
was raised in tho neigbhorbood Il" Ia hn"r
mustered into service for dnr;no tho trar ar,d
! is dischargine the duties of n soidier continued
TO meet the enemies of the Southern Cnnfade.
racy and. in addition 10 this no losS than
four nephews have enlisted for dnrino tho
war, and are now on their march 10 VIRGINIA
| might cite these az evidences in y;ndieSa,;o,,
of myself. if | chose so 10 do bnt sncb IL NOT
the object; it Is merely done for the craft 6cs.
ton of boosting a little. and TO lot those
who were most forward in secession GOO
whether thew have done moro than boyo
and am willing TO do. for The Sontberp Con,
federacy, And more than his I have throo
other nephews who have been in Viroiaio
from the commencement of tho war vitS tho
other Southern troops.
H.
uThe time has been when tbare r,os a ,,o,,,-
erfnl Jnion sentiment In ToYaa ad ~, =
ness on the mart of T,an a1u a "
Mr. Lincoln fair trial IN tbe ~
of the Federal Covornrnant
Tbeee ti,nos IA ,.oaaI ~ re
Union sentiment in Tovae NOV, az, 40.
prized of IT ~
"When the m;l,iops Of pors;o ;,.oaos
Greece. the Snartons wore NOT 49, ,,,i,"S =,
defence of their countrv and I5hor,;os 49,, l.
Texas united in snnnort of tbe Snnthorn O.,
federocv ON'
UMr Lincoln and b;s cob;no, hoo ,.a
the powers of Conoress and have ,ared 20, To-
Anuln9t Sfafa ID lo,,. al,
bY NOT onIv absoI,ed 10 81" ne' r'i. ~,
neonle of the severaI stats e., al Ill eH'
ance 10 his oovcrnnent tbo EadornI go
ment bavln9 coosed 70 exiSt hr III, 80 -
usurnation Uobos Grnna,L ~; 81 "e 49,. "
pendea the writ cer, 10 L'I auS
If American Iibor.,, - a 30 nv oui !" a. Z
law in soyoreian Sia4os ~ Iiiat ia
tho cnrrcnt ;nfoIl;oo,s,,o % 49, ""I " Leiy Vi
tbrongb bis Mo;or Ganora, NJ I"y nV nus nos
mont nrocIoimed noort;aIiaa III: ~
oesumed ,bo n;r;I ~ uiesVui '.'
of tbot State ,boroh,, ;e,nor;, H. T., ra:..
tion and SETTING AZ nan5ht ,ha oro;nt,' -
the neonle and has IN fsct ,,;tb s"1 -
VondaIic I,aIian;.,, Ia ~ ~ Nm no'o wa.
to incite a oor,;Io ;nsnrroo,;s,, 49,, &C.
n the last feather had boon ya - ''," - 49,
the cameIs back this oct af atrociiv " ,rouId
have sunnlied II HE nets and caoY;,a', 49,
suck as have never failed to cbaracter;So tht
heart of a re negade
nIf Mr. Lincoln as no ,vas tho a ,,rosaor h.,
invading the soil of sn,.orni,,n S,a,o ~
causing The blood of ber sons 20 no shaS o,'a,,
in the neiqbborbood Of tho sac,od rar',ai -. =,
Waehinoton af,or ho,,ina $500 'I p.ns ~
upon a Sectional issue in dcroaat;on ~ H.
teaching of his farewell address wishes r.
make reparation for the wronos inflicted be
has but one course left and ia nv oninion
that course is 10 nronose m arnis,ico tSpt
withdraw all fheFederaI troops from VIRGINIA
suspend the action of the Federal forces In ali
thorities Mt the same time e,,,arontoo;n', H.,
they will not advance their troons into on,
.a..:..- -. ,NP' H"to my