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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1841
presents an aspect as smiling and promising as I have ever wit- nessed in any Western country. A few short years ago, it was a wilderness, uncultivated, unvisited, almost unknown. Neither science nor industry had as yet made their impression on the prairie. The hum of well directed labor was not heard; the eye of enterprise had not discovered this spot. But when the man- acles of despotism were broken by the glorious contests of our revolution; in that moment the enterprise of your citizens rallied to rescue this favored location from the forest-population flowed in and with population came labor, and wealth, and commerce; and the city of Houston stands among her fellow cities, inferior to none, the subject of felicitations to many, the source of delight to all. Texas was then but a country just emerging from revolution, or rather engaging in a revolution; menaced by a nation possess- ing thousands almost to one. In a contest with this people so mighty in numbers and resources, Texas has achieved her entire independence, and successfully asserted her right to a position amidst the nations of earth. Mexico had existed for twenty years under the present organization as a government, and for cen- turies under the Viceroys of the Spanish Crown. She had a population of ten million souls. Tell the civilized world that a little band of patriots, animated by the daring spirit and un- conquerable love of freedom which distinguished the Anglo-Saxon race, had battled successfully with an empire so powerful, had burst the bonds of tyranny, and sprung full grown into a nation. And they will tell you it is false; it is Yain. But her demonstra- tion defies contradiction. Her history and her position are before the world. She is even now courted by the crowned heads of Europe, and welcomed into the community of nations. How has this been accomplished? By the spirit and energy of her citizens-by the valor of her sons-by the inspired language of patriotism breathed by her daughters. Oh! it is woman that makes the hero. It is she that instills the fire of patriotism-it is she who inspires every generous and noble purpose, that animates the bosom of man. She is made the guardian angel of domestic life-and while she discharges the sacred duty of mother, sister, daughter, wife, may she take care with all diligence that she forget not the little leaven of patriotism that leaveneth the whole lump. A nation that pos- sesses patriotic women, must ever boast of her gallant sons, brave defenders and successful generals. What is it that guides the
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