WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1860
120
Lincoln, under no circumstances, would I vote for. Douglass, Bell, or Breckinridge, I could not support, unless to save my Country-and Mr. Bell, I could not vote for. But I cannot see how the withdrawal of any two of the Candidates can elect the third. The strife of the two sections of the Democratic party is such that they would not unite, nor would the Bell men go to either, or either of the sections go to Bell. Thus, you have the whole field before you. So, I say stand by the "Constitution and the Union," and so long as the laws are enacted and administered according to the Constitution we are safe; when this ceases to be the case, we can see and compre- hend the extent of the evils and understanding them devise the remedies as wise men who know and value their rights, but not create men of straw that we may demolish them with rhetorical fustian, only to influence the public mind without regard to consequences. Thine Truly, Sam Houston. To Colonel A. Daly, Houston, Texas. 1 Gove1-n01·s' Letters; also Executive Records, 18.59-1861, pp. 210-211, Texas State Library.
To A. G. WALKER 1 Executive Department, Austin, August 14, 1860.
Colonel A. G. Walker, Sir: Your letter of July 27th in relation to Mr. William C. Trimble has been received. The application is of a novel kind: such an one never having been presented to this Department before, within my knowledge. It appears from your showing of the case that a private bargain has been entered into between the securities of the fugitives and Mr. Trimble whereby Mr. Trimble is to receive the amount of the forfeited bond in the case the Executive should intervene to relieve him from any obligation to the State. The Executive can officially become a party to no such private agreements, he can only act between the principal and his securities and the State, and only then when the judgment has been found and upon the presentation of the proper transcripts of the proceedings had in the trial. To interpose Executive Clemency in the manner you desire, would be to establish a precedent hitherto unknown, and to exer-
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