WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1861
278
for Texas. I have received blows for her sake, and am willing to do so again. I PROTEST IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS AGAINST ALL THE ACTS AND DOINGS OF THIS CON- VENTION, AND I DECLARE THEM NULL AND VOID! I solemnly protest against the act of its members who are bound by no oath themselves, in declaring my office vacant, because I refuse to appear before it and take the oath prescribed. It has accomplished its mission, and its chief object has been fulfilled. If to drive me from office and to defeat the will of the people, is an honor, it may wear it. To prevent my having an opportunity to send a message to the Legislature, which meets on Monday, March 18th, I am required to appear at its bar today and take the TEST OATH. Even Shylock granted the full three days ere he claimed his three pounds of flesh. The Conven- tion prescribed that time as the limit, but the President has been less gracious than even Shylock, and clamors for the bond ere two days are· gone. If I am thus deprived of the poor privi- lege of putting upon record my sentiments, through a refusal of the Legislature to receive my message, I will lay the same before the people, and appeal to them, as I declared I would do in my inaugural. Sam Houston. 1 A Broadside; Proclamations of the Governo,·s of Texas, Texas State Library; The Southe,-,i Intelligencer, March 20, 1861; The True Issue, March 28, 1861; The Red Land Express, March 30, 1861; Homer S. Thrall, Histo111 of Texas, p. 506.
MESSAGE TO THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE 1
Executive Department, Austin, Texas, March 18, 1861. Gentlemen of the Senate and the House of Representatives: You have reassembled under circumstances at once momentous and extraordinary. Since your adjournment, the people of Texas in accordance with the laws passed by your Honorable Body, have by their vote at the ballot box declared themselves no longer connected with the Government of the United States. The Executive acting in harmony with you, has performed the legiti- mate functions assigned to him. The election was held, sur- rounded by all the forms of law, and in accordance with your act, and his proclamation; and the returns having been received
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