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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1854
102
the reason why it was a secret act; and it was desired that the President might lay hands upon him, through commissioners, before he could have time to perpetrate that atrocious deed. That was the reason why that was done; and that act was made in reference to the security of the Navy, and from the necessity which grew out of his reckless disregard of all orders and of all authority at that time. These are the facts in relation to it. That he could so contrive it as to get a majority of the Legislature to pass resolutions in his favor, is not surprising; for there was a combination in Gal- veston who had sworn that they would subvert the Government of Texas, or control the Executive, if it could be done in no ·other way than by a revolution. The Executive was informed that arms had been secured and distributed through the country, to super- sede the Executive authority; but the gentlemen did not go quite far enough. They had organized a most imposing association there-a secret society--of known hostility to the Executive, to Sam Houston personally and politically. It consisted of forty- three members. They had their regular place of meeting, and had a flag staff, and red flag, which was hoisted over them at night. They had their high priest and king; they were regularly organ- ized, and had a constitution of a most stringent character, and most annihilatory to Houston. Well, after all this had been done, after repeated meetings, they sallied out one day into Galveston. A cloud had been threatening; it started up not larger than a man's hand; a flash of lightning came, struck their flag staff, and gave such an electric shock to this secret society that it never met again. [Interjections by other Senators.] I cannot but appreciate the monition which the Senator from California has seen proper to notice me with, to teach me some of the proprieties of a Senator, and, as I understand it, a gentle- man. He is not in the habit of bringing his private quarrels or griefs here, or of availing himself of his senatorial position to assail any one. I commend the propriety of the gentleman. I have not availed myself of my senatorial position to attack any one; but when attacked in my senatorial position, I responded to the attacks made upon me. If the gentleman is acquainted with the facts, he will find that at the last session of Congress, the Senator from Maryland [Mr. Pearce] asked me a question, to which I responded, but merely in a short sentence, injurious to no one, and attacking no one; and that response of mine, in con- nection with an attack made upon that Senator by the individual
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