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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
Chamber, to make gentlemen weak in the knees who resisted the conviction that flashed upon every mind. I am sure that I need not dwell upon this subject; but I will make a further remark to the honorable gentleman, who on a former occasion classed me as a party by myself. From that I rather derived some consolation, because I knew that according to my estimate, I could not have been in bad company if I were with myself, [Laughter.] and that no difficulty could arise between myself and my companions. [Renewed laughter.] We should harmonize perfectly. I see discord in other political parties; I see a great want of harmony; I see "hards" and "softs" politically in the same party, not exactly harmonizing; some going a little too far, and some not going far enough; some going one road, and some another; some rather kind to banks, and others a little friendly to internal improvements, beyond the standard that General Jackson fixed. I am a Union man. The great champion of the Union was Andrew Jackson. To him descended from the fathers of the Republic, in a direct line, the principles upon which he stood; and his declaration, "The Union; it must and shall be preserved," will never be forgotten. Sir, that will tingle in the ears of patriots for ages to come. All the combinations of aspirants or political demagogues cannot defeat the great object and aim of our fore- fathers, and of the men who rise in the vista between them and us. I have never, in my life, seen an Andrew Jackson Democrat who was not a firm and decided Union man. He was not a man to make hypothetical cases, and say that in such and such events, in case such and such things would be done, the Union would be dissolved.- It is easy to make a man of straw and prostrate him. The honorable Senator from Georgia, however, says the people of Georgia would not even wait for overt acts. He thinks that they would begin before it came to that. I think that there was no danger to be apprehenced from the anti-slavery agitation so long as it was confined to such people as those who originated it in the North-a lady or two, and a gentleman or two, here and there. They became objects of importance from the fact that the South, choosing to agitate the matter, came in conflict with them, and gave them prominence, and swelled them into something like a political party, and after a while, they became imposing in their attitude. But, sir, there were more free-soilers made by the repeal of the Missouri compromise than had ever existed before on the face of the earth. By whom was that repeal brought about? Who produced it?
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