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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1851
between North and South, was fast dying away and would soon be forgotten, until some new subject would furnish excitement to the American people, and divert their minds from this sub- ject, which had so long agitated them. I thought they had deter- mined to be reconciled. What was done has had the acquiescence of both poltical parties. It has been unfortunately so mixed up as to have had a wet blanket thrown over it; and really at this time I had hoped that agitation was about to subside, and that the old parties would fall into their ranks and march on quietly to the attainment of the objects they thought most eligible or judicious. And I never shall sanction any measure which is cal- culated only to distract the party to which I belong. I will do everything I can, fairly and justly, conformably to the Consti- tution, to pour oil on the troubled waters and to quiet them; but I will not introduce a firebrand. I will not attempt to distract the party by anything extraneous to the principles which have bound them together. I never will, as long as I live, seek to, become the dictator of a party, as to what they ought to do. If I have any measure relating to the interests of the party to introduce, I will submit it to its members; and if they think it ought not to be introduced, I will be prepared to hear their reasons; and if a majority shall overrule my own opinions, I will, upon conviction, surrender my impressions to their deci- sion. I have never attached sufficient importance to myself to believe that I have a right to control the party, or to believe that my diction should be their law, or my opinions their guide. If I could be induced for one moment to believe that the Dem- ocratic party could derive any benefit from the adoption of this resolution, without prejudice to the general weal of the country, I might not oppose it. But now I can see no propriety or utility in it, and therefore I shall oppose it. Is it intended to give effect to the compromise? Will those measures derive any additional force from the passage of this resolution? Will they be more binding? I think not. Is it cus- tomary to reenact laws of Congress, or to indorse them by reso- lution while they remain upon the statute book? Will not the adoption of this resolution in effect declare that we have not full confidence in existing laws passed by a former Congress? If this resolution is necessary at this time, will not a similar reso- lution be necessary at each succeeding Congress, upon the com- promise and every other important measure that they be passed?
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