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\VRI'fINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
continent, or set foot upon it; that no transatlantic Power shall appropriate any portion of it; and yet do nothing ourselves by which these nations may be made useful to the community of nations, and advantageous to the cause of commerce, social organization, and good government? Does it not behoove us to turn our attention to it with a careful eye, and a just regard to our own situation and our own interests? Sir, we have pro- claimed to the nations of the earth that we will not allow any transatlantic Power to interfere with the Governments of America, ·or with the affairs of this continent. It is time that we should not only assert the principle upon paper, but that we should give some practical manifestation nf our purpose, and show that we are capable of making something out of a declaration that we have held forth to the world, of our rights, our privileges, and what we have assumed to be our national prerogative. If we are disposed to abandon the Monroe doctrine, if we are disposed to relinquish to foreign Powers, as we have partially done to England in relation to the occupation of Roatan under the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, in violation of their own construction of that treaty in the first instance, let us do it gracefully; let us recede from our position; this is the occasion to do it; and let us ignore the indications that have already been given in the Senate, and that are making their way in the hearts of the American people. Do this, and you will bring disrepute upon our Govern- ment, and the people will rise in their majesty. The Monroe doc- trine has been asserted; it has been .contended for. We must maintain it, or shrink away from it. We cannot maintain our national dignity and abandon the position that we have taken before the world. We must either maintain the attitude that we have pretended to assume, and make it reality, or we must shrink back degraded and humbled in the eyes of the world. I have proposed nothing in the resolution that I have intro- duced here, but an inquiry into the affairs of Mexico and these other nations. Now, we may contemplate these transactions at a distance, but scenes are every day transpiring which tend to force us to take our stand. We must soon form our determination whether we shall become humbled and degraded in the eyes of the world, or whether we shall step forward in a manly attitude, assuming our position, and vindicating our declarations to the world. Either one or the other must be done. I am in favor of any measure that will advance the national character and national honor, and will intrench U'l in our rights, and enable us
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