WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1850
225
in that Convention, the fact that the Senator from South Carolina was one of its members would remove any doubts on the subject if I entertained them. But yet there are some strange incidents connected with its action; for instance, I have seen a report of an expression of sentiments by members of that Convention, which, when it first appeared in print, was but a hand's length, and I have seen it gather and accumulate in successive papers, until at last it attained the amplitude of nine columns, or about that. Such are the mischievous effects of these convocations. There is no limiting the mischief this may produce, nor the length to which their speeches may grow from the smallest possible beginnings. [Laughter.] But, sir, all this looks like a combina- tion to do something. If it is to do good it is well enough; but if it is to do evil it ought to be abandoned. Sir, from the beginning I have entertained no respect for the designs which were connected with this Nashville Convention movement. I met them in this Chamber at the inception of that Convention, and I incurred denunciation for·the course which I pursued. I was governed by my attachment to the Union, and my repugnance to all sectional divisions, and mere sectional views and opinions; and felt it to be my duty, as orie who desired to give a practical support to the Union, to discourage such a movement, and I did discourage it. I had heard of a convention that once assembled at Hartford, and I desired to be associated with no meeting that had similar objects in view--either to embarrass or dissolve this Government; and, sir, I never will be associated with such a gathering. Show me an assemblage--and this is one in whose midst I now am-intended to preserve the Union and the Constitution, and to secure its faithful administration to all portions of the country, and I will battle for the Union. And in so doing, I shall not resort to arguments which I deem surrepti- tious, and calculated to do mischief rather than any practical good. As to the composition of this Convention, I do know, sir, that the number of votes received by the delegate who claimed to represent the State of Texas there, did not reach one half the number of votes given at the polls positively against the Nashville Convention, and against disunion. These were the sentiments which actuated the people of Texas, so far as any expression was given; and I shall adhere to and be governed by those sentiments thus expressed. In Georgia, sir, with a vote of 90,000, there were but some 3,500, or a fraction short, polled on this question; and
Powered by FlippingBook