WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1861
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This warning had the desired effect and only frequent cheers interrupted the Governor during his address. His speech so deeply impressed me, that at the time I wrotl.! it out from memory. I gave a copy of it to the editor of the Brenham Enquirer (Mr. Rankin), who complimented .me on the cor- rectness of the report, but he deemed it inexpedient to print it. I also gave a copy of it to Mr. Hugh McIntyre, and he, too, declared it correct in every detail. I may have failed to use Governor Houston's exact words in a few phrases, or sentences, but my report of his line of argument is perfect. So far as I know this speech has never been printed, and believ- ing that it will be of interest to the people of Texas and other States, to read that grand old hero's speech, which so prophetically and fear- lessly predicted coming events of disaster to our people, I herewith sub- mit it to you for publication. S. A. Hackworth.
APRIL-SEPTEMBER, 1861
SPEECH AT GALVESTON, APRIL 19, 1861 1 Galveston, 19, 2 P. M.-General Houston made a speech at the Tremont House this morning at 11 o'clock. Before that hour had arrived, a committee consisting of Messrs. Sydnor, Stuart, Nichols, and McLean waited on him and advised him not to speak, or if he did speak, to say nothing against the Conven- tion, the State Government, or the Government of the Confederate States. His answer was unsatisfactory, and many persons went to the meeting determined that he should not make any comments on these topics. The speech was about a half hour in length. General Hous- ton went into detail about his past services to Texas. He de- clared that he desired no office, nor would he accept any, neither the presidency of the United States, nor of the Republic of Texas, or of any other Presidency. He would no longer meddle with our political questions, but was first and always for his country. He said that he had read no newspapers for six months. At the city of Houston, he had heard, to his astonishment, sen- sational dispatches charging him with having intrigued with Lincoln. This he denied in toto; but he asserted that Mr. Lincoln had been misguided in his opinion of him by the calumnies that the Texas newspapers had cast upon him, and that it was this course that had brought war on us. He then went on to ridicule Governor Clark in a style with which he is familiar. He took a tilt at the "demagogues" as usual. He declared that he was the father of his country. He advised the people now, no matter what were the causes that
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