WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1855
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warm for comfort, and he was forced to retire disgraced himself, and his adopted country disgraced through him! It is impossible to follow General Houston entirely through his scathing criticism of Mr. Pierce's appointments. He reviewed the personal history of every man in the Cabinet, and of all the foreigners appointed to office, and concluded this portion of his address by administer- ing to Mr. Pierce a withering rebuke for his treachery to the true Democratic party and to the South. General Houston then gave succinctly, but briefly, his views on the American party, and the necessity which existed for its organization. He said that he believes that the Union is in dan- ger. The slavery excitement is becoming alarming to conserva- tive men. We cannot rely upon the bogus democracy for safety. The American party must save the country. Can a bad tree pro- duce good fruit? The present party styling themselves Demo- crats are not to be trusted; they are inconsistent and corrupt. They seek their own aggrandizement at the expense of the Union, and of the South, and the constitutional rights of the South. They encourage the promiscuous introduction of the elements of abolitionism, by encouraging_the promiscuous introduction of foreigners, in direct conflict with the best interest of the South, of the perpetuity of the Union, and the safety of the institutions of freemen. These principles are dangerous to our liberties, and this danger was seen with prophetic eye by the Fathers of the country. Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, saw it, and warned posterity. Shall we not profit by the warning? The views of General Houston are so well known on this part of the subject, that we have thought it unnecessary to follow him further. He next alluded to his assailants, and in a very feeling manner referred to his connections with the history of Texas, and those who persecuted him for "righteousness sake." During this part of his remarks, the audience was either bathed in tears, or convulsed with laughter. We have never before seen an audi- ence so completely electrified, so thoroughly controlled by a speaker. The transition from tears to side-bursting laughter, was sudden and frequent. He concluded by narrating the fol- lowing anecdote, which, however, cannot be appreciated without being heard. A gentleman had a ram that had the habit of butting every- thing that moved before him. An old negro to test the pluck of Billy swung a mall and Billy made at it. The old negro left the mall and· Billy still at work at dark; when he returned in
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