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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1832-1853
NOTE TO MRS. HOUSTON 1 My Dearest. The Misses Houstons referred to are sisters of General George S. Houstonz of Alabama. They are our clan. Tonight I intend to write you my Love! Thy husband Houston 25th June, 1852 1 This note was written on the back of a letter from Narcissa B. Hamilton to Houston. Miss Hamilton was a favorite cousin of Houston, with whom he corresponded for many years. The original letter is to be found in Mrs. Margaret John's collection of Houston materials. Photostatic copies of all the documents of Mrs. John's collection may be found at The University of Texas Library; also at the Texas State Library. 2 George S. Houston served in the House of Representatives, from Alabama, for the greater part of the time that Houston was in the Senate from Texas.
OPPOSING LEGISLATION CONCERNING RELIGION AND PROHIBITION, 1853 1
I agree with you that any unnecessary amusement that is cal- culated to disturb and annoy persons engaged in religious worship on the Christian Sabbath is wrong and censurable, such as horse racing, gambling of all devices and indulging in a social glass in public. You request me to use my influence and exertions, such as I possess, to induce the legislature to enact a law to effect the suspension of the same. I understand by that you desire the law making power to declare it a penal offense for ·pernons to per- form certain acts on a particular day. In reply, I hold and maintain that it is far better to endure and suffer from the ills of even a great evil than to violate, in the least, a vital principle of civil and religious liberty. When tyrants ask you to yield one jot of your liberty, and you consent thereto, it is the first link forged in the chain that will eventually hold you in bondage. The Irish, that noble race so prolific of brave warriors, grand statesmen and brilliant orators, whose deeds of bravery have immortalized every battlefield over which waved the British flag, permitted the English lords to be centuries in forging their fet- ters, inch by inch, here a little, and there a little until today they are in helpless bondage. The time to resist the encroachments of tyranny is at the inciP- ient state thereof. The constitution of the United States says:
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