281
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
No. 866
[1838 c. Nov. 5?, T. LEGER, BRAZORIA?]. DRAFT' FOR A FAREWELL ADDRESS OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT TO THE SENATE Gentlemen of the Senate, I can not express the pleasure I have ·always experienced in find- ing myself amongst you. Yet, since the meeting of the first Con- gress, this sentiment, which time has only served to increase, never spoke so loud in my heart as in the present circumstance. On the eve of quitting the Presidence of the Senate to fulfil other duties, which the voice of the People prescribes to me, I feel the most urgent desire to speak to you of that personal affection, which binds me to each member of this assembly, and causes me to recog- nize, even among those to whom a new popular choice has assigned a place here, a former companion in danger and in toil, a rival in devotion to our country's cause, and a tried friend whose hand I long to press. ' I avow it; I am proud of this personal friendship. Its origin is too nohle, too pure, too advantageous to our republic, for me not to make it my boast. It is Patriotism - it is Union in the same views of public interest, the same ambition ot advancing the national prosperity, the same _love of the glory of Texas upon which is founded this reciprocal affection. Therefore, in whatever circum- stances I may be placed, to preserve this Union on its primitive basis, and to cement it still stronger, if possible, shall be the con- stant object of all my wishes, all my efforts. If Union, which constitutes the strength of nations, is always desirable, especially between the delegates of the People, betwen the different branches of the government, between the Execu- tive and the Legislature is it important that it should pre- vail. Where, without it, sha.U we find that first element of strength, of authority, of power,- the support of the People 1 Where, without it, shall we find the resources indispensable to secure our national Independence, to repel foreign agression and to gain respect abroad for the character and the flag of Texas 1 ·where, without it, shall we find that unity of principle, that. unity of views, that unity of action in all the measures of Government, so necessary to advance the onward march of an infant nation 1 But, if Union gives strength to nations, not less docs it irn;1:re their happiness. How useful, then, becomes the example of Umon in the depositaries of power? No influence can so efficiently con- tribute to the establishment of concord and harmony between our citizens. In Texas, our population is, and of necessity will for long time be composed of heterogeneous elements; of men born in coun- tries the most distant from each other, offering in their language and their education in their manners and their morals, in their principles and their' prejudices, shades the most Yaried, the most diffcult to reconcile. To confound these distinctions, to destroy these causes of disunion to create out of them a national character such as by its nobleness: its grandeur, its generosity, shall command
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