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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1851
I have on some occasions not had the good fortune to act in accordance with the wishes of the honorable Senator from South Carolina, [Mr. Butler.] I never have believed, nor will I ever believe, that one, associated as he is with such patriotic recollec- tions from the commencement of the Revolution down to the present day-that he, in whose veins flows the blood of all the Butlers, would be wanting in patriotism. I respect his love of country, though I dissent from him in some of his opinions. Mr. President, twenty-seven years ago, I had the honor to occupy a seat in the House of Representatives from the State of Tennessee. I recollect that in the discussion of the tariff act of 1824, for the first time in my life I heard the idea suggested that there might be secession, disunion, or resistance to the con- stitutional action of the Federal Government. When I heard it, I was amazed. I could hardly think it possible that a represent- ative of any portion of the American people would have the fierce temerity to suggest disunion or resistance to the constitutional authorities of the land. It produced deep and intense medita- . tion on my part. I did believe then that an example ought to be made of it, but there was no way to touch it. It wanted some technicalities to make it treason. I have heard principles of dis- union boldly avowed in this Hall, and have heard Senators avow what was treason, not technically, but which was not stripped of one particle of the moral turpitude of treason. Disunion has been proclaimed in this Hall. What a delightful commentary upon the freedom of our institutions, and the forbearance of the public mind, when a man is permitted to go unscathed and unscourged, who, in a deliberative body like this, has made such a declaration! Sir, no higher assurance can be given of the free- dom of our institutions and the forbearance of the American people, and their reliance upon the reason and the intelligence of the community. The intelligent mind is left free to combat error. Such sentiments, with their authors, will descend to obscurity and the tomb of oblivion. I have only to say in con- clusion, that those who proclaim disunion, no matter of what name politically-that those who, for the sake of disunion, con- spire against the Union and the Constitution, are very beauti- fully described in Holy Writ. They are "raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever!" [Remarks by Foote.]
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