WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
374
SYNOPSIS OF A SPEECH MADE AT HUNTSVILLE, SEPTEMBER [ ?] , 1859l
The Galveston Civilian has received an account of the barbecue given to General Houston at Huntsville, of which the subjoined is a synopsis, according to said paper: The meeting of citizens was large and comprehended men of all parties. The table was amply provided and everything passed off in a highly pleasant way. Coionel John M. Wade acted as Marshal of the day. The proceedings commenced with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Yates/ after which Dr. Goree read letters from Ex-Governor Pease, Hon. A. J. Hamilton, and others regretting their inability to be present; Mr. Porter then read ·in a most impressive manner, the concluding portion of Washington's Fare- well Address, counselling his countrymen how to act to perpetuate the blessings of our present happy government. Governor Houston opened his address by a ·feeling allusion to the reminiscenses inspired by the place and occasion, the first barbecue he ever attended in Texas having been in the present Montgomery county; he spoke of the events of the present can- vass, reviewed his own course in Congress, repelled the charge that he had been untrue to the South, or to the Union; referred to the evils that would follow the attempt to reopen the African slave trade, and the bad effects that measure, if accomplished, would have in the reduction of the value of the products of the country, and otherwise; denounced disunionism; spoke against the plan to form a Southern Confederacy, and impressed the sentiments of the Farewell Add1~ess upon his hearers. He delivered a fine eulogy upon the character and patriotism of Andrew Jackson, and contrasted the policy of the Sage of the Hermitage with much that has been claimed as Modern Democ- racy; denounced Seward's "higher law doctrine," and condemned as part of the same creed, the idea of carrying out the idea of the slave trade in violation of the positive laws of the land. He spoke in kindly terms of Governor Runnels, but regretted the company he kept, but said he had no complaint to make, and did not know that Governor Runnels was at all culpable for his frontier policy. He referred to the lamented Rusk in feeling terms; referred to the Compromise Measures of 1850, and the advantages gained to Texas by the exertions of General Rusk and himself in the adjustment of these measures. He ended with a beautiful remark to the ladies. He was repeatedly applauded,
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