WRIT~NGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1826
46
of Massachusetts do every thing to resist the power of the General Government? Did not Governor Strong interpose himself between the General Government and the People of his own State? I say that he did. And, whether this was physical or moral resistance, it had the effect to paralyze the arm of the General Government to a certain extent. Did he not call upon his Judges to sustain him in his position of neutrality which he had taken? Sir, I do not implicate, in his conduct, the whole of that respectable State. I am well aware that there were some men who did much, and would gladly have done more. It is not my wish _to degrade the People of that State. The ruling politicians of that day are responsible to the American People. My information respecting this case I have obtained from documentary evidence. Person- ally I am unacquainted with the People of the State; I have never been amongst them. When these facts transpired, I was too young to take a part in the politics of the day. From the docu- ments, I find that the Governor issued his orders to the Legisla- ture of that State to take no part in this "unhallowed war." The Legislature responded to that sentiment, and directed the militia to remain at home. Sir, this was done in 1814. This, too, was done at a time when this Capitol was in conflagration; when the American character was degraded by the triumph of a few marauding troops in the destruction of our Hall of Legislation. : Yes, Sir, it was then, while the ruins of our Capitol were yet smoking, that the egislature of Massachusetts, by solemn legis- lation, were triumphing in the humiliation of this country. And, 1 now, do they call upon us to pay them for. their services in the ; ,var? For my part, I cannot, I never will consent to it. ; But the gentleman says it was the right of Massachusetts to call out a Major General. And suppose-he had disobeyed, would i 11ot the State have been ans,verable? It seems frOm the tenor of i the gentleman's argument, that the conduct of the Governor was fit and proper, so long as he abstained from aiding the General s I Government. But, he has also said, that, if the 'Governor had • erred, the State was not, ought not to be responsible for his ; error. I say the Governor did err in not obeying the the orders • of the Secretary of War. They insist, that troops were placed under the command of officers of the General Government, in accordance with that order. It is true that agreements and com- promises were made between the State authorities and the officers of the United States' army, but these compacts were soon dis- solved. So, at least, it appears from the only evidence I can find
j I
I
Powered by FlippingBook