57
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1826
secrated by a nation's gratitude. In his ·death he shook the trident at England, and proclaimed to the world, that while Eng- land boasted of her Nelson, America cou!d not forget that she had her Lawrence. Sir, what did the minority in the Senate of Massachusetts do on such an occasion? They did all that was left to the power of the minority. They protested against such doctrines, and they have since become the majority. But suppose, as seems to have been desired by some of the functionaries of that day, that Massachusetts had called in the invading army and opened her friendly arms to those whom they seemed to have regarded with so much more respect and confidence than they did our gov- ernment, what should we have seen, Sir? Butchery and violation, from one end of the Union to the other. But it would have been by the white· man, and not by the red savage. But the minority perceived the course which was pursued by the majority to be ruinous, and here, Sir, is an extract from the protest filed by them in June, 1813. Speaking of the Executive of the United States, and the course pursued by the Government, the extract says: "Whilst the Executive is steadily pursuing that course of policy which alone can secure us safe equitable, honorable and permanent peace, and is actually negotiating to effect it, it is im- possible to conceive what good motive could induce the Legisla- ture of this State to vote a remonstrance so treasonable in its origin, reprehensible in its language, erroneous in its facts and principles, and pernicious in its effects." And, further, the pro- test says- "What man, not altogether exclusively British, can, without the deepest mortificatio_n, read a remonstrance, which in time of war, and pending negotiation, should take the enemy's ground, supoort their claims, and justify their aggressions? It appears to us too much like the attempt of a disappointed faction, who, to obtain power, would trample on the rights and liberties of their country." I regret as much as any American can, that the ground for this protest was furnished by a majority, in their opposition to the General Government, leaving to a minority of the Legislature of that State no other alternative but that which they have adopted. They viewed correctly the tendency of that course pursued by the dominant party in Massachusetts. They saw that it must par- alyze the arm of defense, and increase the power of invasion. It gave confidence to the enemy, and animated their exertions. Yet, we must not forget that this state of feeling in :Massachusetts arose, partly, if not entirely, from the efforts of those who
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