WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1851
318
tariff, in regard to which there was a wide difference of opinion; yet it was not a ground for proscribing the members of the party, or excluding them from participating in all the rights pertaining to it. This being my view of the principles of the party, I am per- fectly willing that the platform upon which we have heretofore acted should remain as it now is, and has been recognized. If gentlemen have departed from the principles of the Democratic faith, and they choose to return to the same platform, I know no objection to their doing so. They have a right to return at any time they please, and the mere concurrence with a paper resolution, unless they feel it here, [laying his hand upon his heart,] will never constrain them to cooperate with the party in good faith. I have this to say to gentlemen who, are tenacious on this subject, "Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." When this rule is applied I can see no difficulty in the way of concurrence of opinion and action in the Democratic party. Moreover I object most especially to the action of this body upon the subject of political platforms. I understand that the business of the Senate of the United States-at least I so regard my own duty-is legislative employ- ment, and not to construct political party fabrics for the people. I would defer to the pressure from without, but I should not expect to benefit the community by radiating from this point, influences of opinions that savor too much of centralism. Cen- tralism is the danger against which the States have to guard; and if our legislation has this tendency, as has been complained of-I do not say it has-but if such dangers are to be appre- hended from legislative action, are they not much more to be dreaded by converting the Senate of the United States into a political machine? I never will agree to this, sir. I will never exercise a function in this body that is not clearly delegated by the relation which I bear to my constituency, and for which I was sent here. It is a principle which is orthodox, and essential to the Demo- cratic party, that the citizen, in a republic, is to delegate no power that he can conveniently exercise himself; and the powers which he cannot conveniently exercise he delegates to his repre- sentative, who is to perform the functions for him. If I am correct in this, whenever the powers delegated are diverted from the objects to which they ought to be directed, it is an application
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