Year: 1860

favor Of the constitution, they viii be
justified, because the President, who -
constitutionally elected, is inimical to
them. 1t must come to this. With all
these checks and guarantees in our favor,
it is urged that we should no longer wait,
but at once let 90 the constitution
Passion is rash--wisdom considers well
her way. When the bone and sinew OF
the country, after calmly considering the
issue in all it's bearings, shall feel that q
yoke Of oppression is upon them, they
will rise to shake il of. Then, when
their now peaceful homes are the scene
of desolation, they will feel no pang of
regret. Moved by common feeling OF
resistance, they viii not ask for the forms
of law to Justify their action. Nor will
they follow the noisy demagoguc, who
will flee at the first show of danger. Men
of the people will come forth to lead
them, who will be ready to risk the con-
sequences of revolution.


If the Union be dissolved now, will wo
have additional security for slavery
VIII we have our rights better secured?
After enduring civil war for years will
there be any promise Of better state Of
things than we now enjoy? Texas es-
pecially has these things to consider
Our treasury is nearly empty; we have
near half million Of dollars i'll the treas
ury of the United Stateg a million of our
school fund is invested In the United
States bonds; we have an extensive From
tier to defend. Pecuniary or personal
considerations ought to weigh nothing
when tyranny is in the scale; but are we
justified in sacrificing these when we have
yet the constitution TO protect us and
our rights are secure? Let MS not en-
brace the higher law principle of our
enemies, and overthrow the constitution,
but when We have to resist, let it be in
the constitution and to uphold it.


Why this military display and call to
arms in Texas? Have we enemies At
home, or is an array marching upon us?


When was there the time when the
citizens of the country were not ready to
flock to its standard in its defenccy Arc
the people to deliberate on this question
with a military dcspotism in their midst,
ready to coerce them? We want sober
thought and calm reason, not furious har-
argues or the argument of bayonets.


If this government is 70 fail, wisdom
must furnish another and better one;
and if patriots yield now to the rash and
reckless, who only aspire to military glory
or for anarchy and rapine, they may find
that in the wreck of one free government
they have lost the power to rear another.
l trust the gloom which now hangs over
the land will soon be dispclled. Now 10
the time for the patti riot 10 come forth
consider what is to be gained by change.
We are called upon to desert the gallant
thousands who for years have been fight
ing our battles against fanaticism in the
North. Heretofore they have aided us
to conquer, and we have been willing to
abide with them. Now, after struggle
more glorious than any they yet have
made, they have been driven back. They
still offer us the guarantees of the con-
stitution, and are ready to battle with us
in its defence. Let true men, all over
Texas and the South, see to it that We
leave them not without cause.


/ cannot believe that we can find at
present more safety ont of the Union than
in it. Yet believe it due tho people
that they should know where they stand.
Mr.. Lincoln has been elected upon sec
tional issue. If ho expects to maintain
that sectional issue during his admins
tration, it is well we should know it, II
he intends to administer the government
with equality and fairness, we should
know that. Let us wait and see.


l have left upon record my position,
should the rights of Texas be sacrificed
by the Federal government. In reply to
Mr. Seward, in the Senate, used these
words; and pray my friends to consid-
er them calmly, as they were uttered:


"Whenever one section OF this country
presumes upon its strength for the OPP
preston OF the other, then will our con-
sttution he a mockery, and it would
matter not how soon it was severed into
a thousand atoms and scattered to the
four winds If the princi pies are disre-
CARED upon which the annexation of
Texas was contaminated, there will be
for her neither honor nor interest in the
Union--if the mighty, in the face Of





written law, can place with ilnpnnity an
iron yoke upon the neck Of the weak,
Texas will bo at no loss how to act, or
where to 90, before the blow aimed at
her vitals is inflicted In aspirit of good
faith she entered the Federal fold. BY
that spirit she will continue to be india
cnced until it is attempted to make her
the victim of federal wrong.


"As she will violate no Federal rights,
so will she submit to no violation of her
rights by Federal authority. The COW
cnant she entered into with the govern.
mcnt must be observed, or it will be an
nulled. Louisiana was purchase; Cali
fornis New Mexico, and Utah conquest
but Texas wssa voluntary annexation.
IL the condition of her admission is not
complied with on the one part it is not
binding on the other. II know Texas
she will not submit to the threatened deg
radiation foreshadowed in the speech Of
the Senator from New York. She would
prefer restoration to that Independence
which she once enjoyed to the ignomity
cnsn,n.r from, soctinnal dictatton Sor.