WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1848
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course, the glance of the warrior's eye would exterminate him where he stands, and leave not a spot to mark the place. He went on to show the intimate connection of interests between the North and the South, which ought to cement the union between them. They are mutually dependent on each other; and if the slaves were free, where would be found purchasers_for the coarser fabrics of northern manufacturers? The South had no reason to com- plain because the North was the beneficiary of the favors of the Government. He thought that these considerations ought to influence us when any one talks to us of a dissolution of the Union. He protested against the cries of disunion, and against every attempt to traduce the Union. He was of the South, and he was ready to defend the South; but he was for the Union. The Union was his guiding star, and he would fix his eyes on that star to direct his course. He would advise his friends of the South and of the North to pursue measures of conciliation. He would discourage every attempt to sow discord, and to stir up the passions of the country, and kindle them up to war. He regretted that the Senator from South Carolina had used any menacing language against the Union. Mr. Calhoun explained that he used no menace. He spoke of his own position. Mr. Houston said, he was glad to find that the Senator meant no menace. What would be done by the South? Would she have a convention? Mr. Downs. Have not the North had a convention? Mr. Butler. Does the Senator think it treason in the South to have a convention? Mr. Houston said, certainly not. It would have the right to hold a convention, and raise a puny war against the women and children who get up abolition papers, or against that convention at Buffalo; and he had seen a much more respectable convention of buffaloes. He would never go into any southern convention; he would never aid in any scheme to bring about a dissolution of the Union. What would a southern convention do? Would it oppose the laws enacted by a majority of the two Houses? Would it raise troops to cut off emigrants to Oregon, because they were going there without negroes? He wished to know if this would not be a beautiful idea. The Senator from South Carolina, after voting for the Missouri Compromise, could not head a convention. Heaven would not let him. Such a mutinous nondescript company as he would have under him, would never
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