Washington telegraph., 1863-05-13

OEN. HOUSTON 3 SPEECH.-lhlS veter.
an Texan delivered a speech in Houston,
Texas, on the 18th of March last. 1t il
in the calm matured tone Of one who has
passed the age Of human passions, and to
whom all selfish interests had dwindled
into iusigni6cance. There is touch Of
pathos in it here and there-a tone of Gan
old man broken by the storms Of State"
but still devoted to his couutry's cause
which gives it the appearance Of higher
wisdom than is vouchsafed to a man in
middle life, buffeting the waves of the
world. The following extract from the
Introductory portion, approaches the sub
lime. 1t is only equaled by q similar
passage in one of the latest-perhaps the
last public address of Thomas Fl. Benton:
81 have been bufeted BY the waves as
l have been borne along Times ocean,
until shattered and worn, / approach the
narrow isthmus which divides it from the
sea of Eternity beyond. Ere l step for
ward to journey through the pilgrimage Of
Death, would say that all my thou hts
and hopes are with my country. If cue
impulse rises above another, it is for the
happiness of this people; the welfare and
glory of Texas will be the uppernost
while the spark of life fingers 10 the
breast. The success of tie Southern
cause for which she and her sister States
now struggle, and which has been made
sacred by the valor of her sons on an hun
dred battle-felds, will be my fondest, best
wish"
We give in full his views of our for
eign policy and relations, in which we con
cur. We and the French are destined to
har monize hereafter:
Nations, like corporations, are soulless
England, to whom many have looked for
aid, has nothing in common with US, save
what interest dictates. Even that she
has thus far sacrificed to her pride and
fanaticism With her thousands of stary-
ing operatives to attest the bitter fruits Of
the war, she yet clings to the impious her
esy, which has burthened her with debt
and desolated some of her fairest provin-
ces. What matters it TO her whether her
millions are starving? Her aristocraoy
gloat at the terrible scenes Of this wal
and her statesmen console themselves with
the idea that the carrying trade Of the
world compensates for the ruin Of her
manufactures! Like the fox that lost his
tail 10 the trap, she stands waiting for
the North to follow her example. aud be
shorn of the same useful appendage. tx.
eter Hall is her curse as it has been the
curse of mankind. England cannot b.
our friend. She must irample upon her
ancient policy and acknowledge her error.
She feels herself our rival already; and
though her efforts to compete with us is
sbortive, yet she will lavish millions ~
make her COLONIAL dependencies equal IL
the supply Of her wants for cotton. Short
sighted as ever, she beholds not rising
here, powerful young nation, capaciuus,
and eq al provide from its own resources
for it, wants, which generous policy on
the part OF nations would induce her 10
supply through natural intercourse with
them Ilalt-ruined already she will wal,
until some more chivalric and sagacious
rival has grasped the prize, and then,
amid tile total ruin of her commercial
prosperity; she will approach that decline
for which the degeneracy of her states
en- has already opened the way. Shut
out from the North already, BY restric-
tive tariffs, from whence must come hor
support, if not from US? France is already
her rival, and the march Of intellect will
soon leave her slow statesmen and unimi.
tative people in the rear. The North is
to-day her bitter foe. Their humiliation
at her hands will be avenged, unless their
energies are completely destroyed by the
war with us. Subjugate us, and the cry
from Maine to the Rocky Mountains
would be for war with "perfdous Albion T"
As England has thus far proven true
TO her ancient policy, we may not look
soon for its abandonment. France, more
progressive aud sagacious, not welded to
the errors of the past, with master mind
to control her destinies, has already be-
held on this continent the true field for
the display of h ,r energies. Taking ad
vantage of the weakness If the North,
and our ABSORPTION in this war Of indepen-
dence, Napoleon is determined to restore
Mexico to order, and place Bonaparte
at the head of affairs, The monopoly OF
the trade CT this continent 10 the hands OF
England, this sagaoious mind regards as
the key of her prosperity. Mexico Fran.
conized, and its vast resources devel, pad,
would Of itself pour into the lap Of France
untold wealth. The designs of Napoleon
are patent t. the Northern mind. AL.
ready resolutions have been introduced
into the Northern Senate, demanding re.
spect for the Monroe doctrine. Napoleon
having identified the historic fame Of the
French people with his success, must 20
on to the Halls of the Montezumas, OF
cloud fame which has thus far proved
worthy of his dynasty. Can a mind SO
comprehensive fail to see the importanc
of securing, neighbors so important aud
advantageous as our Confedercy? Every
interest of France, as connected with the
struggle in Mexico, points in this diIec-
ton. Under the Union we were never
protected against her lavless population.
It is our interest that her condition should
be changed, and that she may be opened
l. L.