WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
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my intention, but the furthest from it in this world, to raise any controversy with him. I admit what he says with regard to the gentleman who is now Governor 0 of the State of Texas. I suppose that he is a very clever gentleman; I have very little personal acquaintance with him; but his antecedents, I think, were of the character stated-he was a State-rights man. I furthermore believe that the Lieutenant Governor 7 was also of the same politics. But, sir, the question of State-rights, or what are more commonly called southern rights, was never raised in the canvass over the State that I ever heard of. If that question has ever been made there, I have not heard of it. The question that decided the contest was Nebraska; and such was the heated condition of it, that it was really exciting. An anecdote will illustrate this. There was a man in Texas who had a very fine son whom he had not seen for some time. He hailed him one day and said, "come in, my good fellow, come in." "I have not time," was the reply. "Come in; the old woman has a fine boy ten days old; come in and see him; and I have got the biggest name you ever heard of in your life." "What is it," he inquired. "Anti-Nebraska," was the reply. "Yes," said he, "Anti-Nebraska. He is greater than General Jackson or Bonaparte ever was." [Laughter.] Well, he went in; and in the Bible, the old man had inserted the name, "Anti-Nebraska.'' This shows you the in- flamed state of the public mind, caused by the Nebraska bill, and the repeal of the Missouri compromise. That was the issue, and also my action on the petition of the three thousand preachers. I did not intend to impugn the principles of my colleague. I know that his life is one of spotlessness and patriotism; and I have never thought of impugning him; and on reflection, he will admit, I presume, that State-rights has never been made an issue in our State. He will admit, also, that the chairman 8 of the Democratic committee was but a few years in the State when he was elected chairman of the Democi·atic State committee, and that that gentleman had been a disunion editor in Mississippi, and was a member of the Nashville disunion convention. He will admit that, I am sure, and that is all that I want admitted. In our State that has never been made an issue; but whenever the question arises of union or disunion, then it may .be tested fairly. I do not know·how it will come out, but I can guess. I assure the honorable Senator, however, that my intention was not to cast the slightest reflection on him; but I said that since money of which I spoke was granted to the State, the application of it
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