WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
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us as pioneers in the cause of freedom and improvement, may view our labors and struggles with gratitude, and be enabled to look with confidence to the God of nations for his blessing. 1 Thc ·weekly Citizen, December 9, 1843. A copy of this paper may be found nmong "Miscellaneous Texas Newspapers, 1843-1854," University of Texas Library. Long extracts from this speech were printed in the Civilian and Galveston City Gazette, November 25, 1843. 2 The paper is torn. A SPEECH AT THE OLD CAPITOL, NOVEMBER 10, 1843 1 My Friends - No other appelation than that could I properly select, for you are friends, as abundantly evinced around me to- night, to the individual before you. For this c-arnest of friendship toward me, I thank you, gentlemen. That sentiment is cordially responded to on my part. Though when I came here I had not anticipated addressing this company, nor do I conceive there is any necessity for responding, yet I do not hesitate to give utter- ance to the feelings inspired in my bosom hy this expression of your sentiments towards me. It is true, my countrymen, that whatever approbation is bestowed upon me, excites in my breast a just sense of gratitude as well as a feeling of self approbation r_eflected by my fellow citizens. Whatever I have done, whatever dangers I have encountered, whatever toils and privations I have undergone, I have done all for my country; not prompted by the hope of individual aggrandizement, but by sincere motives; by the desire of seeing Texas built up and established as an inde- pendent government among the nations of the earth. Not that I alone was to be the beneficiary. But a few short months, and, if I survive, I shall return to an equality with my fellow-citizens. When this occurs, and others shall occupy my station among you, I shall be among the first to show obedience; I shall have passed the ordeal, and when I see others striving for the good of their country, I shall have learned to appreciate their labors, and will be ready to remove obstacles rather than to cast impediments in their path. I only regret that I have possessed so little power to benefit. The embarrassments which have hung around my nation, have been almost insurmountable. With a country de- rided abroad; discouraged at home by a disregard of the law, I have had to contend with impediments almost amounting to de- spair. However, I have not shrunk from the arduous task im- posed upon me. We have accomplished something. Peace has already shed its balmy influence upon the feelings of the people
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