WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1861
271
course pursued in annexing them to a new Government without their knowledge or consent. His Excellency desires me to tender you the assurances of his esteem and consideration. Very Respectfully, E. W. Cave, Secretary of State Sam Houston [Rubric] 1 Gove1·no1·s Letters,· also Executive Records, 1859-1861, pp. 207-211, Texas State Library. · LeRoy Pope Walker (February 7, 1817-August 22, 1884) was an emi- nent lawyer, a shrewd, tactful politician, and a man of upright character; but the appointment proved to be a mistake, and both Davis and Walker soon realized the fact; therefore Walker resigned the position and was appointed a brigadier general, and assigned to do office work in various positions. After the war, he resumed his law practice. He was .born, lived for the greater part of his life, died, and was buried at Huntsville, Alabama. See C. A. Evans, Confederate Mil·itary History, Vol. I; also, Dictionary of American B1'ography, XIX, 351.
To THE PEOPLE oF TEXASl
Executive Department, Austin, Texas, March 16, 1861. Fellow-Citizens: Often in the midst of past troubles when gloom hung over the country, it has been my fortune to address you; but never before, even in the perilous days of the Old Republic, have the rights and liberties of the people been in such danger, that I, as their Chief Executive, have been forced to appeal to them against usurpation. That time has come. Worn out with the cares of office, I had retired to the bosom of my family to spend the remnant of my days in peace. Amid. forty-five years of toil, in the public service, I had not yet lost the hope that the happiness and the peace of the humblest citizen would be vouchsafed to the closing years of life, which had been beset since manhood with constant strife and turmoil. You were not satisfied to let me rest. You appealed to me to come forth and raise once again the standard of the people. You urged me to forget the peace of home and the duties I owed to the chil- dren I am to leave among you, and meet the shock of party for your sake. History will say that I did so, only when to refuse would be ungrateful to a people, who had long cherished and honored me. I yielded to your solicitations and was elected by your suffrages and I entered on the discharge of my duties as Governor, inspired with hope that by arduous devotion to your
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