WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1860
197
Here, I take my stand ! So long as the Constitution is main- tained by the "Federal authority," and Texas is not made the victim of "federal wrong" I am for the Union as it is. I am now an aged man. My locks have become white in toiling, as I believe, for the liberties of mankind. Were I young, that I might look forward to the future, feeling that whatever danger might come my strong arm would be at hand to defend my family, I should feel less anxiety than I do at present. The years that I will have to endure the misfortunes of civil war, will be but few. If I could feel that with the close of my career would end the miseries of my race, I could share its misfortunes with pa- tience; but to feel that the perils of revolution must continue; that war with its attendant horrors of bloodshed, rapine, and devastation must still be visited upon it, would embitter my last moments, and after living to witness the dissolution of the best government that ever existed, I would sink to the grave without a hope that freedom would be regenerated or our posterity ever enjoy again the blessings with which we have parted. Let ~s pause and ponder well before we take action outside of the Con- stitution! Truly thy friend Sam Houston. 1 A Broadside; also Executive Records, 1859-1861, pp. 252-256, Texas State Library; Sam Penland Scrap Book, Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas (this is a large book filled with various rare original documents, and printed articles. Sam Penland was one of Houston's nephews) ; The Red Land Express, December 22, 1860; The Ha1·'rison Flag, December 8, 1860; The True Issue, November 29, 1860. Each of the above sources also contained the letter signed by sixty-five names of citizens of Huntsville, Texas, ask- ing Houston to give his opinion concerning the political crisis that was upon them. The list of names differs in the various sources slightly in per- sonnel, not in number of names. This copy has been made from the broadside. There is in the Texas State Library a photostatic copy of a letter, in broadside form, that answers with approval this Houston letter to the citizens of Huntsville. This letter was signed by a long list of names of citizens of Harris County. It was dated December 1, 1860. To THE GOVERNORS OF THE VARIOUS SOUTHERN STATES 1 Executive Department, Austin, Texas, November 28, 1860. To His Excellency, Governor of the State of ·--------------- Sir: ·I have the h0nor to transmit to you the joint Resolu- tions passed by the Legislature of the State of Texas, approved
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