17
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1824-1857
secret conviction, which modesty induces me to repress!!! I can- not judge for the want of some more light what you are all at in the land of Uncle Sam. I hope such men as you are, will, on all occasions, and always, be as you have been, the sturdy friends of the people, not to amuse them with baubles, but, secure, to the industrious classes, a recompense, for their toil, and a reward for their thrift-I am more impressed of late with the dangers arising to free governments, from monopolies, than, I have been at any former period of my life. If I were asked for the most direct plan to destroy•liberty, and establish monarchy, I would say "encourage monopolies, and establish primogeniture. They are the soul of monarchy, and cannot long remain separate. They are, in fact, the essence of Despotism! The Federal powers as defined, are worth the union, but the moment that they cease to be limited to the objects to which they were designed, it will require a great political, if not a civil Revolution, to restore mat- ters to a healthy Democratic State again. Write to me. Mrs. Houston unites with me in sincere, and faithful regards, to yourself and family. In reply to Mrs. H-s remarks and mine, Sam says, "Where is little Danny? I would be happy to see him." Salute all friends. [Endorsed]: Handed to me on the 22d Feb. 1846, by Capt. Eastland at New Orleans. 1 Tennessee Histo1-ical Magazine, III, 160-162. The original letter is among the Donelson Papers in the Library of Congress. See Houston to Donelson, April 3, 1845. Donelson is here addressed at Tulip Grove. 2 Houston was here using an old Indian maxim. 3Charles Anderson Wickliffe (June 8, 1788-October 31, 1869), was born and educated at Bardstown, Kentucky. He was admitted to the bar in 1809 and began his law practice at his home town. He served through the War of 1812, as aide, first to General Winlock, and then to General Caldwell. He was Representative from Kentucky to the 18th U.S. Congress, and served in four successive Congresses (March 4, 1823-March 3, 1833). He was Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky in 1836, and upon the death of Governor Cl.ark, became Governor and served from October 5, 1839, to September, 1840. He was appointed Postmaster General, on October 13, 1842, and served until March 6, 1845. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the governorship of Missouri in 1863. He is connected with Texas his- tory because President Polk sent him on a secret mission to Texas in 1845, to find out the temper of the Texas people concerning the subject r,f annexation. He was not a discreet man, and became involved in local politics. See Civilian and Galveston Gazette, December 2, 1844, and March 6, 1845; also see Biographica.l Directory of the American Congn:ss (1928), 1697. -iRobert Field Stockton (August 20, 1795-October 7, 1866). For full biographical details see Dictionary of Ame,·ican Biography XVIII, 48-49; and Biographical Directory of the American Cong,·ess. Stockton was a naval
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