199
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1855
a heritage from our fathers. Shall we guard it with care, and transmit it unimpaired to our children? Or shall we surrender ourselves to demagogues and party leaders? Or shall we sell our birthright for a mess of potage? We have a high and holy duty to perform to our country and if we, as Americans, cannot maintain and preserve our freedom, is it possible, or even probable, that we will find a safer depository in the hands of foreigners; or the satelites of a Pope? whose system of religion pursues American Protestants with denuncia- tions while living, and denies their bodies burial after death in Catholic countries. Is it a crime, or even a fault in Americans who seek to resist an influence so adverse to principles of free government? Is it proscription to fortify ourselves against en- croachments upon religious, or political freedom? If it is wrong, then I am wrong. If it is right, then I will maintain the right. Your friend and Fellow-Citizen, Sam Houston. 1 Texas Republic.an, July 25, 1855; Texas State Gazette, August 18, 1855. This letter is also to be found in pamphlet form in the Dienst Collection, University of Texas Library. Many other newspapers quoted what they called extracts of this letter, and many of them distorted Houston's words so as to make him say far different things from what is to be found in this letter. SYNOPSIS OF A SPEECH AT WASHINGTON, TEXAS, AUGUST 2, 1855 1 General Houston, as usual, commenced his speech with a series of compliments and flattery, and an expression of the satisfac- tion he felt at being favored with so large an audience. He then said that there was a great war in Europe, that the great heart of Europe was in a high and feverish pulsation-that he did not know what would be the result, but that he expected there would be some considerable trouble before it was over, and he did not know exactly how it would come out;-but that he feared that the great heart of the American people was also in high pulsation, and he was afraid we would have trouble here, too, and that somehow or other thei whole world would get into trouble. He occupied some time in these remarks, the exact drift of which he did not seem to make very clear until he came to the administration of Mr. Pierce, and then he said that Mr. Pierce had made a very bad. President indeed, and he had very bad advisers about him, and created all this excitement. in the great heart of America, and that he [Mr. Pierce] did not know how to bestow the offices properly, and had appointed th1·ee gentlemen
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