WRITINGS OF Sur HOUSTON, 1856
385
city. It led to consequences which were deemed disastrous and ruinous to the prospects of the Executive for a renomination so far as it depended on the State of New York. It became neces- sary to counteract that effect and to do something which could have a tendency to combine the South as a unit. The effect had been made on previous occasions to unite the South in regard to the tariff, but that was not effectual. It was then determined in conclave, as I was informed, to present this measure in order to make an issue on which to unite the South. To be most authentic on that point I will narrate an occurrence which took place at the time. When I understood that the odious measure of repealing the Missouri Compromise was in contemplation, I met a certain gentleman and asked him if he had heard of it? He said he had. I asked him if he was committed on the subject? He replied that he was. I expressed my regret, and hoped his commital was not irreversible. He replied that it was, and gave the circumstances under which the measure had been presented to him. I said to him, "Sir, if this bill passes, it will disrupt the Democratic party; it will prostrate Mr. Pierce, it will endanger the Union." He replied, "You are mistaken, General; it will re-elect Mr. Pierce." "Ah," said I, "how?" "Sir," said he, "it will give him the united Southern vote, and then, he will get Illinois, Indiana, and Penn- sylvania, and they will elect him without New York." When I heard this, I understood the "great boon" that was offered to the South! I replied, "You are mistaken, for in eighteen months from this day, you will find that Mr. Pierce cannot be elected a con- stable in any beat in the United States; at least that is my opin- ion." [Laughter.] That was the inception of this great measure. Now, we see what it has brought on the country. We are in the midst of the trouble that has sprung from the ambitious views which dictated that repeal. If we are to reconcile those differences, it must be done by conciliation, not by pursuing a course which will increase the estrangement between Senator and Senator, section and sec- tion. Let gentlemen here go to work like the political fathers of the country. Let them seek conciliation; let them not seek estrangement and alienation of feeling. We are obliged to live together. We are the people of one nation. Though we may have internal divisions, external causes must keep us together. We are irresistable, we are invulnerable, so long as we are united; but dissever this Union, and we should become a prey, not to internal dissentions, but to foreign ambitions and aggrandizement. We
Powered by FlippingBook