WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
512
American morale. When they have all faded away, the natural consequence will be, that a weaker race will be brought in contact with us, and the stronger must prevail. These people will have to yield to the dominant spirit of the American people. The structure of our institutions, their moral, their physical, and all their powers, indicate a controlling influence that at some day will not even stop at Central America, but go beyond it. We are an increasing people. We have continual accessions from other nations, and they become imbued with our spirit, and commingle with us and our enterprises. This mixture of races causes an irresistible impetus, that must overshadow and overrule that whole region. 1 Congressional Globe, Part 1, 1857-1858, pp. 735, 736, 737; the resolution is also to be found in Jom"1wl of the Senate of the United States of Ame1·ica, Ser. No. 917, pp. 189, 198, 362, 401, 582-583. AGAINST ALTERING RULES OF PROMOTION IN THE ARMY, FEBRUARY 17, 1858 1 Mr. Houston. I did not intend to make any remarks upon this subject before the Senate, but it seems to me rather extraordinary that armies should have existed for such a length of time, unde1· so many able heads as we have had over them in the United States, without a suggestion of this kind for the perfection of army organization ever having been made before. At any rate, if such a suggestion has been made, I am not aware of it. When there is certainly no particular urgency for a modification of the law in this respect, it is strange that it should be brought forward on this occasion. I shall not refer to the temporary character of this bill, but go upon general principle that there is no necessity for any change in the present system of promotion. If a change is necessary, that necessity must have been of such long continuance that I am satisfied it would have been discovered long ago if it had really existed. The honorable chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs was Secretary of War for one presidential term, and it seems that it then never suggested itself to his mind, and perhaps would never have done so if it had originated with the rationale of the Army. 2 [A senator here expressed dissent.] Mr. Houston. Perhaps that was a pet idea of the late Secretary of War, and it is necessary to remodel the whole military system in accordance with it; but still, that does not inculcate on my mind the necessity of conforming to that precedent. If gentle- men are called from their regiments who, by long service, are
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