WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1849
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to subserve their own unhallowed ambition, put in jeopardy the welfare and liberties of my country. I oppose both as co-oper- ating to produce the same mischief however hostile to each other. But the weak enthusiast who speculates and vociferates has less of my abhorrence, than the wicked conspirator who concentrates the force of every strong passion to make a fatal blow at the vitals of the republic. I would lay down my life to defend any one of the States from aggression, which endangered its peace or threatened its insti- tutions. I could do no more for the Union, but I wish to do more; for the destruction of the Union would be the ruin of all the States. A" stab in the heart is worse than a cut in a limb, for this may be healed. It is nature that teaches to cling to the Union. It is the best security against every ill that the weak have to apprehend. This feeling has been impressed upon my heart by the instruction and example of the great man whom, when a boy, I followed as a soldier. (I trust I may say with the instinct of patriotism,) and from whom as a statesman I never separated, until I wept over his yet warm remains at the Hermitage. The great trophy of his history will be the stern purpose with which he maintained the watchword of his admin- istration, " The Federal Union, it must be preserved." I am your fellow citizen, Sam Houston Washington, March 2, 1849.
1 The Northern Standard, May 12, 1849.
REMARKS CONCERNING TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW MEXICO, MARCH 3, 1849 1 Mr. Houston. Mr. President, it is not my intention to in- flict a speech upon the Senate at this advanced stage of the session. I have merely risen to state my objection to any amend- ment of the character of that proposed by the_honorable gentle- man from Kentucky. I presume that the passage of the amend- ment brought forward by the honorable gentleman from Wisconsin will not entirely close the question to which the amend- ment of the honorable gentleman from Kentucky obviously points; and if that Senator should, at any future time, see proper to
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