Year: 1860




views respecting the present crisis in on
political affairs is at hand. At present
can reply but briefly; but l shall do 81
the more frankly, feeling that this is
time when the truth should be plainl,
spoken by every lover of his country.


recognize among you names OF mel
of all parties. Some of you are old an,
tried friends and citizens of Texas. IL
such especially | look with confidence
now, when the country is agitated an'
revolution threatened. In all the trouble
of the repu bic | have found you tn
friends Of constitutional liberty. Having
seen the throes of one revolution, having
shared in its vicissitudes, and borae I
part in bringing Texas into the Union,
trust that you, in common with patriots
ofthese times, will ask some more weighty
reason for overthrowing the government
than rash enthusiasts yet have given; and
that while others are carried away by the
impulse Of the moment, the men of eX
periencc will be calm and decided.


/ had hoped that an opportunity would
have been afforded me to rejoice in the
triumph Of some one of the conservative
candidates for the Presidency. Had the
candidates for whom the voice of Texas
was declared been elected, should have
had additional cause of qualification; but
such is not the case. On the contrary, ]
must regret and deplore the election OF
men, whose only claim to the confidence
and support of the whole country must
be the official character with which the
constitution invests them.


In remembering the many evidences
which n portion Of the northern people
have presented of their willingness to
disregard their constitutional obligations
and infringe upon the rights of their
southern brethren, am not in the least
surprised at the indignant responses now
uttered by southern men. 1t shows that
if the time should come when we can no
longer trust to the constitution for our
rights, the people will not hesitate to
maintain them. 1t will be well if those
States which have yielded to fanatical
sentiment, so far as to interpose between
the Federal authority and the constitu-
tional rights of whole section of the
Union, will now, inspired by spirit of
patriotism and nationality, retrace their
steps. Upon a citizen of their own sec
ton, and one of their own party, they
have now placed a responsibility which
he cannot avoid. As the Chief Executive
Of the nation he will be sworn to support
the constitution and execute the laws
His oath will bring him in conflict with
the unconstitutional statutes enacted by
his party in many of the States. Elected
by that party, it is but natural that the
conservatism of the nation will watch his
course with jealous care, and demand at
his hands q rigid enforcement of the Fed
eral laws. Should he meet the same re-
sistance which other Executives have
met, it will be his duty to call to his aid
the conservative masses of the country,
and they will respond to the CALL Should
he faltar or fall, and, by allowing the laws
to be subverted, aid in expressing the
people of the South, he must be hurled
from power. From the moment of his
Inauguration there will commence an
"irrepressibla conflict, different from that
which the party of Mr.. Lincoln is based
upon-it will be an "irrepressible conflict"
between the constitution, which he has
sworn to support, and the unconstitution-
al enactmonts and aims Of the party which
has placed him in power. He has de-
clared the fugitive slave law is constitu-
tional. In its enforcement the conflict
is with the North alone.


l need not assure you that whenever
the time shall come when we must choose
between loss of our constitutional rights
and revolution, shall choose the latter;
aud if !, who have led the people of Texas
in stormy times of danger, hesitate to
plunge into revolution now, it is not be-
cause ! am ready to submit to black re-
publican rule, but because regard the
constitution of my country, aud am de-
termined to stand by it. Mr.. Lincoln
has been constitutionally elected, and,
much as deprecate his success, no al
tentative is left me but to yield to the
constitution. The moment that instru-
ment is violated by him | will be fore
most in demanding redress, and the last
to abandon my ground.


When l contemplate the horrors of
civil war, such as dissolution of the
Union will ultimately force upon US, |
cannot believe that the people will rashly
take a step fraught with the these conse-
quences. They will consider well the
blessings of the government we have, and
it will only be when the grievances we
suffer are of nature that as freemen VIC
can no longer bear them, that they will
raise the standard Of revolution. Then
the civilized world, our own consciences
and posterity will Justify us. If that
time should come, then will be the day
aud the hour If it has motif our
rights are yet securc-we cannot be JUS
tilted.


Has the time come? If it has, the
people, who have to bear the burthens Of
revolution, must themselves effect the
work.


Those who reside in cities and towns,
where masses are carried in crowds and
influenced by passionate appeals, may be
ready for hasty action; but the working
men and farmers, whose all is identified
with the prosperity and peace Of the
countrv will ask timc In reflect