WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1827
113
·•Hugh Lawson White (October 30, 1773-April 10, 1840), jurist, Senator from Tennessee. See Dictionary of American Biogrnphy, XX, 105-106; also a Biogravhical Directory of the American Congress, 1690. !)See Dictionary of, American Biogrnphy, V, 609-610.
THE ANSWER TO' A TOAST AT TELICO, TENNESSEE 1
Telico, Tennessee, July 13, 1827. To Our Distinguished Guest: "Rivetted to the affections of a grateful people, by a coalition attack upon his independent purity, basely subsidizing the authority of the Executive of Kentucky, claiming his arrest and trial for the vile purpose of mortally stabbing his political existence." General Houston rose and made a most forcible and impressive reply to the sentiment contained in this toast, and it is to be regretted, that we are unable to give it in his own words- He said in substance, that the transaction alluded to, was one which he could never suffer his mind to recur to, without the mingled sensations of pain, and thankfulness-it gave him pain to think it had been his misfortune to be compelled to engage in single combat with any individual- he felt thankful to that Providence which had enabled him to save his person, and his honor, without doing a lasting injury to a fellow creature- He said he always had been, and still was opposed to the practice of duelling. He had passed through the army without ever being necessitated to an act that would sanction such practice, and had hoped to pass through the walks of civil and ·political life, "following peace," and practising "good will towards all men:" but the present ad- ministration of the federal government and some of their par-• tisans, had directed otherwise. The postmaster at Nashville re- signed, and about six hundred and sixty persons had recom- mended, as his successor, a young man who had been long an assistant in the office and was in every way qualified to do its duties. This recommendation was supported by the recommenda- tion of ten out of eleven of your members of congress. Th€se recommendations were disregarded, and a man appointed with but very few recommendations in his favor; but he was a partisan of those in power. He, [Houston] as representing the district, felt indignant at this public manifestation of disregard to the will of the people, and had complained, as he felt it his duty to do, in strong terms. The Executive himself had communicated, or
Powered by FlippingBook