WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1856
388
A sentiment, Mr. President, which I fully approve, was once uttered by an extraordinary man, whose counsels I still revere, though he may be falling into disrepute, as I see in the present political contest, he is denounced as infamous, as insane, as tyrannical-a monster in human shape! I allude to the patriot Jackson. He uttered a sentiment which I am willing to indorse today, and through all future time to which my span may reach, be it long or short. It will never be contracted or obliterated from my heart. It is this: "The Union-it must and it shall be preserved." You cannot get rid of it. You cannot make the arrangement necessary under a plan of disunion that will answer, and I will tell you why. In my opinion, the Union is enshrined in the hearts of the American people, and though their statesmen, and representatives may quarrel here the great mass of the people is sound. Devotion to the Union is with them a religious prin- ciple, whether they profess another religion or not. The mother teaches her children, the schoolmaster teaches his scholar, the orator teaches his auditory, to reverence, respect, and love for the Union. Throughout the country this is a sentiment common to all, dear to all, cherished by all. You cannot affect it. Your bickerings here, I trust, will have less effect than the Nebraska bill had. That measure was concocted here. The people knew nothing of it. Both political parties of the South represented here happen to concur in it. The Whigs lost, as I feared they would, a great chance to come into power by their action then. I said if they had not proclaimed the Whigs of the South to be a unit on that question, and arrayed themselves as a party in support of that measure, though they appeared then to be dis- organized, they would, in less than four years, have become omnipotent here, and in my opinion, would have controlled this government for sixteen years. Mr. Clay [Clement C. Clay, of Alabama]. With the permission of the Senator, I should be glad to ask him a question. Mr. Houston. With pleasure. :Mr. Clay. I wish to understand the Senator distinctly. I under- stood him to say that he left the Democratic party, because it advocated the principles of the Kansas-Nebraska bill? Mr. Houston. Yes, sir. Mr. Clay. And that he now acted and cooperated with the American party, because it advocated the restoration of the Missouri Compromise'? Mr. Houston. No, sir; I gave no intimation of that kind. I will answer the gentleman by the assurance that I deem any agi- tation of that subject impolitic and unwise. I now see insuperable
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