WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1826
52
times are democratic, that he may thereby elevate himself into office, and when placed there, seeks every opportunity in his power to spit his spite and venom, arising from his rankling hate, against those who are the real advocates of freedom and equal rights- it matters not by what name he may have been called, and I am equally indifferent to what influence he may possess- I will fearlessly say he is not a democrat: he is not a republican of my stamp, but if his conduct agrees with his profession, if he is a democrat, not in the word only, but also in deed; or, if pro- fessing to be a federalist in name, he supports measures truly republican in their character, and promotive of the vest interests of the country, I will give him the right hand of fellowship. What was our situation, Mr. Chairman, when Massachusetts thought fit to resist the authority of the General Government? Our Northern frontier was bleeding at every pore; our armies were reduced to skeletons; our Atlantic coast was bound in blockade by the enemy's ships; fleets hovered in sight of our sea ports; our Southern frontier was drenched in blood; a savage enemy had invaded our Northern border; the conflagation of our frontier hamlets proclaimed the approach of an Indian enemy; the murderous tomahawk was raised on high; the savage arm was upheld by British influence; the scalping knife received a keener edge from the gilded hope of British gold; and indiscrimi- nate slaughter of every age and sex closed the scene of our suffering frontiers; our finances were exhausted, our credit de- stroyed, and hope was a stranger in the land ; despair was marked in every face, and each patriot countenance, as it anx- iously gazed on the passerby, exclaimed, "What shall we do to be saved?" Convulsions shook the very foundations of our govern- ment. Sir, at that time, did not Massachusetts appoint Com- missioners, or Agents to wait upon the President of the United State to inform him that it was time he should surrender his power into other hands? And do you call these patriots? Men who commanded a dissolution of the Union? It is idle to say that this was the conduct of the Governor alone: that Governor who refused obedience to the authority of the President of the United States, who was on good terms with the Governor of Nova Scotia, and who called his judges around him to furnish pretext for resistance, was sustained by the People at large, for he was returned to office, from term to term, with increased majorities. The Legislature which sustained him in his course, was returned in the same manner, and his pious Governor and his patriotic - . L
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