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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1859
use money until it has been appropriated. The postal service, as well as other regular departments of Government, must depend upon Congress for support. It is ungenerous to condemn Mr. Buchanan for the faults of others. Yet, we find in his own party, a powerful faction arrayed against him, and that those who pro- duced the troubles entailed upon his administration, were the first to desert him. Mr. Buchanan was nominated and elected by the regularly organized party of the Union. Whatever doubts may have existed as to the platform, must have given way before his interpretation of it. Should his party sustain him? Ought not Texas, which gave him such an unanimous support, to stand as stood Aaron and Hur, by the side of Moses, and hold up his hands, while he labors for the country? Those who opposed his election might stand off; but of his party something better was to be expected. Has it been done? Did the Houston Convention endorse Mr. Buchanan's administration? There's the rub. If I had neglected to sustain it what a howl would have been set up around my path; but yet a Convention meets in the name of democracy, and fails to give him its endorsement. If in the consideration of other matters this had been forgotten, some excuse might be offered: but it was a deliberate act. The subject was considered in the committee on platform,-and it was resolved that it would not do to endorse a democratic President. Was it because he is known to be a Union man, and that I had sustained him? Is this a reason why a Convention, claiming to represent the national Democracy should desert him? It is the first time since the rise of parties in this country, that a Convention, even though but of a local character, has failed to endorse the President of its party. Contrast this with other Conventions, held lately in the States, and see how little claims it has upon the support of national Democrats. All of them, in accordance with established usage, give Mr. Buchanan the hand of fellowship. Shall it go out to the Democracy of the Union, that the Democracy of Texas sym- pathizes with the northern disorganizers who are trying to break down the Administration. I am called a disorganizer,-but what do you call this? What better evidence do Democrats want of the faithlessness of this body than this? I do not condemn the Convention sys- tem. I never have done so. When they represent the people they will do very well, but when they misrepresent the people, I am opposed to them. Good may result, and has resulted from them. In times of party strife, when principles, are at stake,
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