WRITINGS OF SAM HouSTON, 13.27
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bread whera he can best find it, on the cold common of the world's charity. And, after all these things, we are brought to contem- plate the President's Message on the subject of the Georgia Treaty. What does he say on that subject? He says, "A super- added obligation, even higher than that of human authority, will compel the Executive of the United States to enforce the laws and fulfil the duties of the nation, by all the force committed for that purpose to his charge." This is a threat against a member of this Confederacy. What, Sir, ta!k of superadded obligation higher than human authority? Is he not sworn to execute the laws made by human authority? Is he not bound to execute those Ly a Constitutional oath? What superadded obligation will jus- tify the President of the United States in deluging one of those States in blood? I cannot believe that he will rush to such awful extremities, when they are uncalled for by the circumstances in which he is placed. Surely there is not an officer in the United States who has the honor to wear a sword in defence of his country, that would hear with satisfaction, or even approbation, an order to draw that sword against the bosom of his countrymen. What, Sir, murder unarmed men, defenseless women and chil- dren; and this, too, in cold blood? No! the galla1~try of, Ameri- can officers can only be displayed in defence of their country. For myself, if I believed there was an American officer who would draw his sword against his countrymen, and I were to meet that officer, either in the public, or private walks of life, I would spurn his hand as I wou!d contamination. The adoption of this course towards Georgia does not, I hope, receive its impulse from the circumstance of that State being the residence of William H. Crawford, who indignantly spurned an offer, made to him by the present Coalition, to unite with them in a partition of power. Nor, will I indulge in belief, that it has grown out of the demon- stration by the Legislature of that State, made with so much unanimity in favor of General Jackson for the next Presidency. But should the Administration persevere in the course which they have suggested, all good men must deprecate the calamities which will ensue. For myself, I cannot contemplate the scene with any other emotions than those of apprehension and horror. 'Gales and Seaton, Register of Debates in Cong,·ess, III (1826-1827), pp. 1382-1388. The Daily National lntclligcncc,·, March 12, 1827. These sources give the same report except for a few differences in paragraph division and
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