WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1826
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in the documents. We are told that when a requisition was made by General Dearborn, of the United States' army, troops were furnished, and were placed by him under the command of his son, a General of militia. It may be so. But was not this the condition upon which the troops were furnished? If so, the requi- sition was not complied with without qualification. If the Gov- ernor in all this had acted unknowingly, I could find an excuse • for him. If his error had been those of omission only, the guilt would have been less; if it were true that the Governor alone had erred, I would then say that the State of Massachusetts ought not to be prejudiced. But, if on the contrary, it be a fact that what he did was done with his eyes open, that his errors were those, not of omission only, but of commission also; and, in his studied course of resistance to the United States, he was sus- tained by a majority voice of the People of Massachusetts in that resistance-while a war was raging and a savage enemy was laying waste our country, burning and destroying our towns and villages, a Governor thus acting fround a regular accession of strength and support from the People over whom he presided; then, I say, that People are responsible. The People of the State came to the polls; they had an opportunity then to place a veto on his conduct. Did they do so? Is there anything like a shadow of disapprobation? No, Sir. They approved his course; they sustained his principles. He was re-elected, by increased majori- ties. They hailed his election with acclamations. Their Legisla- ture rendered solemn thanks to Heaven for his re-election. And, now, Sir, what is asked of this Congress? To pay ,for services rendered by troops whose services had not met the spirit of the Constitution. We find that assurances had been given by the Governor of that State, that, if the requisitions of the General Government were not complied with, that the "measures which may be adopted by a State Government, for the defence of a State, must be con- sidered its own measures, and not those of the United States. The expenses attending them are charged to the State and not to the United States. Your excellency will perceive that a different construction would lead into the most important, and, as is be- lieved, into the most pernicious consequences." Yet we find his Excellency prepared to risk the consequences; and it is but fit that the State should now be answerable for them. Look at the subsequent conduct of this same Governor. On this ground of Federal assurance, troops were placed by compromise, under the
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