WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1861
become distinguished, and if they should fail in this from a lack of talent, they would at least have the satisfaction of becoming notorious by connecting their opposition and abuse with my name. A trio, at least, of these editors came from North of the Mason and Dixon's line, and no doubt were of an ultra- stripe in the North; it was natural enough, then, that they should become extremists in the South, and opposed to the con- servatism which I have always maintained and advocated up to the present crisis of our country; and now, I am conservative, because I am maintaining our sovereignty and independence, as I believe we are entitled to it and capable of sustaining it. Had I been disposed to involve Texas in civil war, I had it in my power, for I was tendered the aid of seventy thousand men and means to sustain myself in Texas by adhering to the Union; but this I rejected, and in return for the offer, I gave my advice to the Federal Government that I wanted no money, I desired no office, and wished for no troops, but if Mr. Lincoln were wise, and really wished to confer a benefit upon the country, he would evacuate Forts Pickens and Sumter, recall all the Federal troops from Texas, and not take the advice of such men as General Scott, or his administration would be disgraced. Not- withstanding this, when my message was reported to Mr. Lin- coln by his own messenger/ it appeared from confidential letter- writers in Washington, that he did not believe that his agent had been faithful in the discharge of his trust in reporting my opinion. To this conclusion he was led, no doubt, by the editors referred to piling up and repeating the charges upon my repu- tation of abolition and treason to the South. So strong was his belief, as stated by the writer, in ·these slanders that he imme- diately resolved to send another messenger and troops to the South. Facts which have transpired before the people of Texas for the last twenty-nine years would offer me a vindication much stronger than any which I shall ever attempt, were the parties cognizant of them still living, but most of them have been gath- ered to their fathers. I might refer to facts without boasting, although I have not had a personal participation in the war, nor have I yet perceived a necessity for so doing. My only son above the age of childhood, and he is only a stripling of eighteen, attached himself to the first company that was raised in the neighborhood, has been mustered into the service for dur- ing the war, and is discharging the duties of a soldier, equipped to meet the enemies of the Southern Confederacy; and in addi-
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