The Portland daily press., 1863-04-06


mo part of foreign territory. My eye rested
upon not one material object, during my jour-
ney, that was not part and parcel of my
country, as fondly deemed it. When we as
semb'ed together, as far as know, every State
and Territory was represented upon this hoor
The great fabric of the Government was then
complete; but now, how changed, When | go
hence, it will be to find my pathway intercepted
by new and strange nationalities. Without ever
having wandered from my Dative land | must
traverse foreign countries, If | would return.
might be excused for doubling my own identi-
ty. Surely may be pardoned for having invol-
unfairly prayed that this might prove troubled
and protracted dream. Yet it is too true-too
many evidences force conviction of the sad real
ity But few days past, MIR. Speaker, the no.
BILE temple of American liberty stood complete
in all his parts-stood in all the majesty of its
vast proportions, and in the glory of its appar-
ent strength and beauty of construction; not a
pillar missing nor joint discovered. And its
votarles were gathered about the altar, Worship
ping, as was their wont, with hopeful hearts.
Forebordings were felt, and predictions made,
of the coming storm, and the destruction of
the temple. And the storm has come, and
still RACES; the temple still stands, but shorn
of its fair proportions and married in its beauty.
Pillar after pillar has fallen away, and while its
proud dome still points to heaven, il is reeling
in mid-air like drunken man, while its solid
foundations are shaken with an earthquake.
Yet there are worshipers there about the shrine,
and am among them. have been called by
warning voices TO come out and escape the i'm
pending danger; Ihave been wooed by entrea-
ties and piled with threats. But sir, neither en-
treaties nor threats, nor hope of reward nor
dread of danger, shall tear me away until lay
hold of the horns of the altar of my country,
and implore heaven, in its own good time, to
still the str rm of civil strife, and through such
human agency AS may be best, again uprear the
fallen pillare In their that fhax
may through long ages contribute to the strength
and beauty of the noblest structure yet devised
by man y
Mr.. Hamilton returned to Texas to find
her the helpless prey of Disunion conspira-
tors. The treacherous surrender by Gen.
Twiggs of the greater portion of the regular
army Of the Union, (which Floyd had ordered
from Utah to Texas, doubtless for that very
purpose had placed in the hands of the ac-
tive traitors nearly all the arms and amuni-
ton in the State. They were united by Sc
cret league; they were ready for the emergen-
cy; and the weakness OF Gov. Houston in
surrendering the government of the State in
TO their hands. had completed the ruin of the
Union cause. For year or more, Mr.. Hamil-
ton remained at home, suspected and watched,
but not arrested, his character and position
being such, that any wanton assault upon him
would have redoubled to the injury of the Sc
cession cause. During that time, he was ad-
vised Of repeated instances in which Union
lists less conspicuous and with fewer personal
friends than himself were hunted down, fet-
tered, abused, aud slain, for no other offence
than that of fidelity to their country. Union
ism was everywhere depressed with a strong
hand, yet nowhere extnguished. Thousands
who were induced TO plunge into the dark pool
of Secession by the assurance that it was
merely device to frighten the North into
concessions of her rights to the South--by
representations that there would be no blood
shed, and that all would be settled and smiling
within few months-haye long since been
bitterly undeceived by the relentless conscrip-
ton which has torn every son capable of bear
ing arms from the paternal hearth, and by the
various devices whereby all their stock and
crops are swept into the Confederate droves
and gamers, and paid Tor in Confederate scrip
or not at all. He has no doubt that MAORI
ty OF Western Texas with the other half of
the State he is comparatively little acquainted
would welcome tomorrow the unfolding
among them OF the dear old flag under which
they always enjoyed abundance, security, and
happiness.
Bat Mr.. Hamilton, though born, reared, and
always living in the Cotton States is no I'M
conditional Unionist. He is openly, unequiv-
ocally, in favor Of strangling the monster,
Slavery, as well as his offspring, Treason-and,
recognizing In Slavery at least the fulcum
whereby the traitors were enabled to upset
the loyalty of the South, he favors its demoli-
ton in order that loyalty may safely rear its
head again. Believing that il Slavery were
extinguished, the Rebellion would be a fire
without fuel, he is a champion of the policy
which says, Let Slavery die. that so the Re
public may live" Such is Hon. Andrew j.
Hamilton of Texas-do not miss an opportu-
nifty to hear him, and let his earnest words fire
your heart with deeper devotion to Freedom
and our Country.