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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
arrived for adjournment, I thought it proper to defer what I had to say until this morning. Before proceeding to notice the remarks of the honorable Senator, I desire to afford him an opportunity of giving a more explicit explanation to one ex- pression which he used in relation to myself. When he referred to the course which I had pursued in the Senate on former occasions, he spoke of my "antecedents." If the _gentleman will be so kind as to explain to me the full scope of that observation, I shall be better enabled to compass my view of the subject. I should be glad if the Senator would think proper to explain what he meant by my "antecedents," as he twice used that term in the course of his remarks. [Mr. Iverson explained that he thought Houston was seeking popularity in the North.] Mr. Houston. Mr. President, the honorable Senator need not repeat the whole of his exposition of that particular remark of his, for he has heretofore been very explicit; and I intend in the course of my observations to advert to that particular part of his speech. He has not instanced any particular occasion to which he intended to apply the term "antecedents;" no vote, no action of mine, by which I have gone out of the way for the purpose of iauding the Union, or condemning any gentleman who had thought contrary to me on that subject. I have combatted opinions that I have thought heretical, and I am always ready to combat them -whether they be in accordance with northern or southern views; but not for the purpose of making personal assaults or reflections on gentlemen. If my antecedents are looked out, it will be found that they have been entirely consistent. I know to what the gentleman must necessarily have referred, as he made the remark in connection with his allusion to the recent defeats which I have sustained. The reference must have been to my vote for the organization of Oregon, my vote for the admission of California, and my vote in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska bill. All these votes were in strict accordance with the instruc- tions that I derived from -my own State, and under the Constitu- tion of the Union and the Democratic measures of the Govern- ment; so that in them I am sustained. But if my advocacy of the Union has caused my immolation, politically, as the Senator says, I exult and triumph in that as the most glorious antecedent of my existence; one that I hail with pride and consolation as an American; because I have always looked to the Union as the
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