WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
160
would be the worst pang of death. I, too, am to leave children among you to share the fate of your children. Think you that I feel no interest in the future for their sakes? We are passing away. They must encounter the evils that are to come. In the far distant future, the generations that spring from our loins are to venture in the path <'f glory and honor. If untrammeled, who can tell the mighty progress they will make? If cast adrift -if the calamitous curse of disunion is inflicted upon them, who can picture their misfortunes and shame? 1 The Han·ison Flag (Marshall, Texas), October 27, 1860; William C. Crane, The Life and Select Literary Remains of Sarn Houston, 599-610. This copy was made from the Harrison F/a.g. The two sources check in words, sentences, and paragraphs, except for these differences: (1) In paragraph 2, page 603, Crane gives the majority of conservatives in the North over Black Republicans at 270,000, while The Flug gave 750,000; (2) Crane omitted the anecdote concerning the German and Judge John- son, in the conclusion of the speech. 2 At this figure both sources drop a footnote that give some further details.
REMISSION OF A FINE AGAINST JOHN S. WISEMAN, SEPTEM~ER 24, 1860 1
THE STATE OF TEXAS. WHEREAS, At the Fall Term A. D. 1860, of the District Court, held in and for the County of Bell and the State of Texas, John S. Wiseman was tried for the Offence of Keeping a Public Ferry without a licence, and fined therefor, the sum of Fifty Dollars, and whereas, it has been made known to me, by the Petition of many of the Citizens of the said County, as well as the Judge who presided at the trial, the jury who found the verdict, and officers of the Court, that the said Wiseman is poor, has a large family to support and that the payment of Said fine would be a hardship upon himself and his family and that, in truth, he had no intention of committing a wrong, but believed he was doing a public service by pas.sing over persons and the mail, • that otherwise would have been detained during the late high waters, Therefore, Be it known that I, Sam Houston, Governor of the State of Texas, believing from the facts pi·esented, that suf- ficient good cause exists for the exercise of Executive Clemency, do by virtue of the power vested in me by the Constitution and laws, hereby remit the fine of Fifty Dollars, imposed upon the said Wiseman and declare the same cancelled and set aside; and the Clerk of the District Court of said County of Bell, will make
Powered by FlippingBook