1· :i
341
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1859
(1917); H. S. Foote, Bench and Ba,· of the South and the Southwest (1876); Johnson-Barker, Texas and Texans, V, 2659; John S. Ford, "Memoirs," IV, 661; Frank Brown, "Annals of Travis County and of the City of Austin" (MS.), Chapter XIII, 71; XXIV, 34, 37; XXL, 13, XVIII, 9, XXIV, 59; Dictionary of Ame1-ican Biography, XIV, 287-288; Galveston Daily News, February 17, 1878.
To FERDINAND FLAKE 1
Huntsville, July 2d, 1859.
F. Flake, Eclito1· of the "Galveston Union." Dear Sir :-Since my reply to your letter, I have seen the letter referred to,~ and with pleasure say to you, in return for your courtesy, that I hcive not known since 1855 of the existence of any O'rganization in this State of the Know-Nothing Order, no1· of any intention eve1· to revive it. Fo1· my own part, I am not in favor of again agitating that or any other ISM. It was stated years since, that [(now-Nothing-ism was dead-and I have so 'rega1·ded it. There are isms of a most dangerous character which threaten our safety, as weli" as our existence, to which I am unalterably opposed. These are the isms of Nullification, Secession, and Disunion, which are in vogue with many men who claim to be friends of the South, but are in reality Demagogues, who live on agitation, hoping to be elevated by the confusion of the times. Many of these are prominent advocates for re-opening the African slave-trade, than which no greater evil is to be apprehended to the South. If this were once done, the South would be overrun by African barbarians, and our lives, and what is worse, our homes and our families would be subject to their barbarities-and in no possible way advance our general or national prosperity. In my opinion all these devices are intend~d to bring about Dis- union. Hence, I am opposed to all isms, and henceforth will rely for safety and free Government upon the Constitution and the UNION. They embrace all that can exist of freedom and regu- lative liberty among men. Under their protecting aegis we can enjoy everything. Without them the reflecting mind can expect nothing but anarchy and ruin to the. best hopes of mankind. In haste, thine truly Sam Houston. 1 Texas Reptiblican, July 23, 1958, Ferdinand Flake was a German immi- grant, the son of a Lutheran minister, and a native of Goettingcn. He was we]] educated and was trained to habits of industry and sobriety. Left an
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