WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1849
90
have felt the most painful and intense emotions upon witnessing a spectacle exhibited here such as I had never anticipated; and although I have waded through scenes of anarchy and turbulence, though I have seen people forming a disorganized mass, a chaotic community, I never entertained the same feelings that I have on this occasion. I have seen order resolved from a mass of chaos, but I have never seen order resolved into chaos before. To wit- ness the American Senate, as an American citizen-to see that most sublime and magnificent spectacle ever presented or con- templated resolve itself into disorder and confusion, has oppressed me with much feeling on this occasion. When I have seen the waves of turbulence agitated; when I have seen grave and .reverend Senators upon this floor agitated and discomposed as upon the present occasion, I have felt deeply that we exhibited a spectacle to the civilized world at which we should cover our heads with shame. I hail, sir, the approach of order and regularity. I will not rebuke the Senate. Every Senator upon this floor is capable of instructing and teaching me. But·I can express my joy at the return of system and order. I felt, as I doubt not others felt, when the proposition_ was made to give a government to Cali- fornia; I felt that something ought to be done; and, less regardful of the true rules of the Senate than I ought to have been, I readily acquiesced in ingraftiY!.g upon this bill a provision that was not germane to it. For this, sir, I pay the penalty of contrition and penitence. I regret that I allowed myself to break over the regular course so far as that. We have now arrived at a crisis when it is necessary for us to act for the honor and security of the country, and I do not hesitate to retrace my steps. I return from the course I improperly adopted. Sir, without Cali- fornia the States can exist; but, without the States of this Union, California is less than nothing. Let us preserve the Union. Let. us administer the laws of the Union, and let us not be turned aside from our own safety in legislating for others. Let us not keep back our country from the high destiny that awaits her in after time. Let us remember that the world looks on us. It is not our constituency alone-those of whom some gentlemen are so regardful-but it is the whole world, who looks upon us with admiration or disregard-for I will not say contempt; I cannot
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