279
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1851
there was no female circle for a man of genius or of spirit to resort to and pa~s the evening, as he had been accustomed to do with his sisters, neighbors, and friends in former days. · He loses their chastening influence, and becomes rude and wild, and either gives way to champagne and debauchery of some kind, or to the card table. It is a miracle that so many have been redeemed from the fatal influences of vice and intemperance. Whenever you take away the moral restraints of society, females with their endear- ments, man loses his higher attributes, and their absence is sup- plied with enjoyments less noble and less worthy of admiration. You would hardly believe it, if I were to tell you, but I will attempt to demonstrate it. I assert boldly-and I leave it to every lady that hears me, to every lady in Philadelphia, and, though you may think it is a broad challenge, to every lady in America- that Texas has acted more honorably, more nobly, and more gal- lantly, than any other State in this Union. As I don't wish, gentlemen, to excite your anger or antipathy, or to inspire the ladies with an unusual degree of admiration, I will tell you what it is. Texas was the very first State that took up the great subject of homestead possessions to the ladies. Our laws are that, if a lady marries, her husband has no control, without her consent, over her estate; he cannot dispose of any portion of it, nor can it be taken for the satisfaction of his debts, incurred either before or after marriage. She is entitled to half that is produced during the time of their marriage; and if he dies owning the whole estate, and she owns nothing, she has her homestead, and improvements, and farms, protected to the amount of two hundred acres, or two thousand dollars, that cannot be attached. Now, if you can beat that, I will give up. Other States are now following the example of Texas, of those thieves, and vagabonds that have become regenerated since they were driven off from the old States, and now set an example to be reflected back. The whole of it is, that the highly accomplished ladies are going there, so that, if their husbands are dissolute, improvident, adven- turous, or speculative, their property may be secure; and that has regenerated our society, and we are becoming an elegant, polite people, of whom I am a fair sample. I shall make one remark more in relation to the excitement which has existed throughout our broad land to some extent. I must confess I never considered it dangerous; it may be that I had less to lose than other people; but I could never apprehend danger so very terrific as that which presented itself to some people; but I was very
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