228
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1861
the only one of the States that possessed ere her connection with the Union, full and complete sovereignty. Though she brought an empire into the Union, and added vastly to the era of slavery, she arrogates to herself no especial privileges, nor has she yet consulted her own safety or interest, save that in common with that of the entire South. Knowing the obligations which she took upon herself when she came into the Union, she has thus far shown no desire to relieve herself of those obligations, until it is manifest that the compact made with her will not be observed. Having made an effort to concert with sister slaveholding States, to secure the observance of that compact, and failed in that effort, it would then be her pride to sink all considerations prompted by her own ambition, and share a common fate with them; but, if on the contrary, they, consulting their own interests and their own inclinations, neither seeking her counsel for cooperation, act separately, and alone, and abandon the Union and a Government, of which she yet forms a part, Texas will then be compelled to leave a policy, whereby she has unselfishly sought the good of the whole South, and will pursue that course which her pride and her ancient character marks out before her. Were I permitted to trust alone to the tenor of the first part of your communication, and had you given me no assurance of the fact, that, although Alabama "desires to show her Sister Slaveholding States, that she feels that her interests are the same as theirs, and that a common destiny must be the same to all,'' yet she will, through the Convention, which assembles today, the 7th inst., "withdraw from the present Union and take her position as a sovereign State," I could give you more assurance of my cooperation as Executive of Texas, with Alabama, in this present emergency. Should Alabama, without waiting for the action of Texas, withdraw from the Union, and Texas by the force of cir- cumstances, be compelled at a future period, to provide for her own safety, the course of Alabama, South Carolina, and such other States as may follow their lead, will but strengthen the convic- tion, already strong among our people, that their interest will lead them to avoid entangling alliances, and enter once again upon a national career. No claim would then exist upon Texas, for her cooperation has not been deemed important at a time when it was essential to her safety; a·na her statesmen will deem that she violates no duty to the South, in unfurling once again her Lone Star Banner, and maintaining her position among the independent nations of the earth. If the Union be dissolved and the gloomy foreboding of patriots be realized in the ruin and
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