WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
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and such things were done that never have been contempated or thought of, they woud be good grounds for separation. When those things occur, it will be time enough to examine the point; we shall be as well prepared then as we are now; but to make preparation for an event that is not at all probable may be the means of precipitating us into difficultfes from which nothing would ever extricate us. When an act is done, there may be something in it; but gentlemen may express themselves as they please. I was censured, and it was brought up as a cause of challenge against me in a canvass through which I passed, that I had said that if John C. Freemont, or any other citizen under the Consti- tution of the Union, were elected President, I would not deem it cause for going into revolution or division. That was the senti- ment that I declared, and it was brought up in judgment against me. I repeat the sentiment-I would judge the tree by its fruit. The American people have the right to select any ·citizen who is qualified under the Constitution for President of the United States; and whilst he discharges his duties under the Constitution, I would render him allegiance as faithfully as if he had been the man of my choice, however adverse he might be to me. So long as he discharged his duties by executing the laws of the country, and supporting the Constitution, I woud sustain him. [Mr. Iverson and Mr. Ward 4 speak. Ward took issue with Houston for leaving the inference that the $5,000,000 secured by himself and Rusk, and left in the Texas treasury, had been used to defeat him.] Mr. Houston. My colleague will permit me to remark that. that is not what I said, nor what I meant. I did not say that the Democratic party had done so. Mr. Ward. You said the party in power? Mr. Houston. I said the party in power. Mr. Ward. Then, sir, I claim that to be the Democratic party in Texas. Mr. Houston. I mean the Austin State Committee. 5 [Ward, then, explained at some length, that Houston's political unpopularity in Texas, arose from his advocacy of the Know Nothing party, as well as from the reasons that Houston had stated, and that all together had been the cause of his non- election to the Senate.] Mr. Houston. I really regret that my colleague has found it necessary to object to anything that I have said; for it was not
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