WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
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element we have in a servile population and yet she suffers untold miseries. He has maddened these men. Mark me, the day that produces a dissolution of this Confederacy will be written in history in the blood of humanity. All that is horrible in war will characterize the future of this people. Preserve Union and you preserve liberty. They are one and the same, indivisible and perfect. These thoughts call to mind the fact, that an individual in the north, high in public station and standing at the head of a sec- tional party, has declared resistance to the laws of the land, and would establish in its stead what he calls, "The Higher Law." Mr. Seward says to the people of his section, "Reform yowr own Code; extend a cordial welcome to the fugitive when he lays his weary limbs at your clo01·, ancl defend him as you would your household Gods." That is a violation of law. The Fugitive Slave Law guarantees your constitutional rights, and yet this man advises resistance to it. Is this right? You answer no. Is it treasonable? Yes, you declare. Then whot would you think of the same kind of sentiments advocated in your own midst? Yet, the great organ of this party at Austin, announces in the very face of the law prohibiting the African Slave Trade, that "no Southe1·n jury will brand a man as a felon for trading in foreign, instead of domestic slaves." That is saying that Southern juries will prejure themselves for the sake of cheap negroes. It is a slander upon the South. Honor and virtue alike demand that it should be indignantly repelled. Is not a sentiment like this as bad as that of Mr. Seward's? These are the men who denounce me. Yet I have counselled no violation of law. I have violated none myself. I had rather be a victim of vengeance, than an out- law and a sanctioner of treason. I challenge an investigation of the record, and ask my country- men to judge me by that. Recall the scenes of olden times with which many of you are familiar, and let me ask you when I fell short of your expectations. True I did not wear gold rings on the outside of kid gloves. (I wear rings, but they are the gift of friends, and it is for their sakes I wear them, but not over kid gloves.) We did well to get buckskin clothes, and brogan shoes, and I have mine to show my children, so that if at any time they should let fashion and folly get the better of them, they can see what their father was~ and not judge men by their dress. Then we were surrounded by difficulties. After annexation, who was it for twelve years stood by me shoulder to shoulder in the Senate struggling for the good of Texas? Gen. Rusk assisted in that
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