WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1858
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to vindicate our citizens, and yive them protection wherever they may travel on the earth. This earth is ours along with other nations, and we must occupy our share of it. Sir, the boasted ensign of our nation will cower and lose all its pride and prestige unless we uphold it, and vindicate our national honor by an onward, determined course; not by boast or bravado, but by act- ing in our legislative capacity so as to vindicate the feelings of the nation, and show that we are a part of the mighty world, and that we are determined to uphold our rights, and maintain our honor. 1Cong1·essional Globe, Part 3, 1857-1858, p. 2565. For several years prior to 1858, it was alleged, United States citizens, as well as the United States flag, had suffered many indignities in Mexico and Central America. In several cases, American nationals had been murdered; in far more cases their property had been seized, or destroyed; and during the many revolu- tionary raids in those countries the American flag had been torn down and insulted. The United States had no way of redressing these wrongs, except through their treaties with those countries, and the governments of Mexico and the Central American States were so unstable that little could be accom- plished through the treaty relations. For this reason, a bill was passed in the House of Representatives with a view to remedying the govern- ment's lack of power to protect its nationals in the countries to the south. When it came to the Senate, this bill met much opposition; and in the debate there were many opposing opinions expressed. Houston seized the opportunity made by this opposition, again to press the importance of his resolution for a protectorate over those disrupted American nations. See the debate in the Senate, Congressional Globe, pp. 2564-2567. ~see The W1-itings, VI, 508, and this volume, pp. 33, 84, 127. CONCERNING A MEXICAN PROTECTORATE, JUNE 2, 1858 1 Mr. President, I rise for the purpose of moving to take up the resolution I introduced some time since in relation to a pro- tectorate over Mexico. In doing so, I have a very few remarks to make, and I hope that the Senate will consider them in the light in which I intend to present them. The introduction of my resolution was in all good faith and sincerity, believing that the necessities of Mexico are such, in connection with the frontier of the United States, and particularly the State which I have the honor, in part, to represent, that it was a duty imposed upon me to initiate some measure on the subject. I saw that the dis- organized situation of Mexico was well calculated to invite ag- gression, from surrounding countries. and to provoke aspiring spirits and men who were disposed to depredate and maraude upon a feeble nation. This induced me to present the resolution
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