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97
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1849
the mode of effecting his object through a distinguished member of the Executive Committee of his State, seems to have been substituted, as one calculat~d to gratify alike his individual bitterness, and to place at his disposal a species of Guerrilla Corps cle reserve, well adapted to h~s new system of warfare. Although he was silent when he should have spoken, and cannot now speak, when he should be silent, yet others can speak for him; and he can utter his threats and denunciations through other mouths, in a style as classical, and with epithets as select as those, which form at once the ornaments and terrors of your epistle. But neither the positiveness of your statements, the authority of your "Diary," nor the boasted accuracy of your memory, must prevent me, from correcting an error into which you have blundered. In stating that I have coalesced with one for any purpose, on whom I thought no debasing ephitet could be mis- applied, you must be ·mistciken--for such is not the truth. You are pleased to taunt me with a defective education. While admitting the truth of this charge, I must say that I have long since learned to regard it as an incidental misfortune, arising from my circumstances in early life. As such I may acknowledge it; but there can be no propriety in imputing it to me as a fault, or taunting me V\-ith it as a crime. I was educated at an " old field schoolhouse," at small expense; while you, sir, were edu- cated at West Point Academy, at considerable expense. I poorly, and at incliviclual cost; you highly, and at public cost. When you entered the army, your patriotism was aroused by the gift of a comm1ss1on. I enlisted as a private soldier, prompted by the desire to vindicate the honor and rights of my country, and protect a bleeding frontier,-you received your promotions as gratuition,-I fought for mine. You depended upon education,- !, upon common sense. When the question arises, which of us has rendered the most efficient service to the nation, I will refer to your own "Diary" and to your forthcoming history for the answer. From the tenor of your letter, I should infer, that, if I ever possessed your confidence, you have withdrawn it from me. It was doubtless extended and withdrawn in that spirit of "con- fiding simplicity" of which you profess yourself the proprietor. You have not confided what disposition you design to make of
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