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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1855
When leaving Galveston for New Orleans, Santa Anna wanted to pay his respects to him (General H.,) but the President and Cabinet refused permission, for fear Santa Anna would com- municate to him, or hand him a slip of paper and let him know of the bribes demanded of him, to let him go. While he, General H., was absent in New Orleans, the President appointed Gen'l. Lamar to the command, in order to disgrace him, Gen. H. He said he would now pay his respects to the Galveston News, a low, dirty sheet that no decent man ought to take, edited by that fellow, Richardson. Yes, that fellow Richardson. I know a Dr. Richardson up here, a very clever fellow, and several other Richardsons, very clever men, but that fellow Richardson, that abolition Richardson, that disunion Richardson, he came here to Texas to preach politics to the intelligent people of Texas. Why, the last I knew of him, he was lying up here some where, so drunk he could not help himself. An abolitionist at the North, and now a disunionist in the South, which amounts to the same thing. He is too mean to steal. I intend to pay my respects to him before long in Galveston. . And now, fellow-citizens, I am willing that my enemies may fester in the putrescence of their own malignity. They cannot hurt or disturb me. The people of Texas through their repre- sentatives, have thrice elected me to represent them in the United States Senate, without any seeking upon my part.-I have en- deavored to be their faithful representative. How far I have succeeded, I leave for the public to judge. I thank you, fellow- citizens, I thank the people of Texas, for the confidence, they have reposed in me. He then closed by a very beautiful address to the ladies in a style peculiar to himself, contrasting the state of society in the time of our revolution, when there were few of the fair sex in 'rexas, with its present improved condition brought about almost entirely by that benign influence which they exercise in all nations, just in proportion to the progress they have made in civilization. 1 Galveston Weekly News, June 19, 1855. While this summary is not a verbatim report of Houston's speech, it is the only one that has been found that pretends to cover the entire speech. To JOHN HANCOCK 1 Independence, 21st July, 1855. My Dear Sir. My friend, W. D. Miller, wrote to me, saying that your brother had expressed a wish, if I did not see you at
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