WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1843
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of Texas. They are quieting down from the ardent, impetuous and strange frenzy of glory to be acquired in the field. Industry is becoming the order of the day. Texas is advancing towards her glorious destiny. The powers that have stepped forward to her assistance furnish new evidence of their willingness to aid her. And it may not be amiss, on this occasion, to inform you that I have this day received new evidences from France, Eng- land, and the United States. What evidences had we a year ago? Then we encountered nothing but indifference, apathy, coldness and neglect. Now it is far different. Each of the nations is .striving to rival and outstrip the others, in conferring benefits upon us. Texas is surely advancing to that goal she has so long been struggling to attain. The. structure of her freedom and glory will ascend till it reaches the skies. And then, when all faction shall die away, and crumble into nothingness;.when the nameless thousands who have been engaged in defamation and opposition, not to the man, but to the country, shall mingle with their mother earth, and be forgotten forever, then will the people of Texas arise like giants in the plentitude of their prosperity, and honor and bless the pioneers who have led them on to their destiny. Yes, this is the reward you are to look for. The pioneer who struggles on through toil, and peril, and privation, when he reflects upon the advantages that are to ensue from his labors, when he looks into the perspective of the future, and sees cities rising, plantations opening, churches and steeples ascending, millions of human beings responding to a sense of obligation, chanting hallelujahs to the Most High; when he looks at these results, he feels emboldened : he feels righly recompensed for all his trials in the assurance that his posterity will flourish in strength; that they have a God to protect them, whom they honor. Industry, my countrymen, union and the earnestness of patriotism will give you all the blessings and joys that you wish or desire. Everything cannot be accomplished in a day. I trust that posterity will do me justice. Though I may have done some service, I hope that those who follow me may not only emulate, but far transcend my endeavors. The thought of fame, before I have designed an act, or raised an· arm, never once entered this heart of mine. God is my witness. The only consideration has ever been, will this act benefit my country? If it would, I did it; not to be honored, but in the anticipation that with the prosperity of my country, what little I had would become valuable, and if I were blessed with posterity, however humble and obscure might
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