WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
441
Southern interests in both sections to accomplish another division, all the more eagerly sought, because of recent precedent. Indeed, if peaceable separation were possible no confederacy could be formed upon any other principle than that of leaving domestic institutions-where the Constitution of the United States now leaves them-to the States individually, and not to a central government. I have been no indifferent spectator of the agitations which have distracted our councils, and caused many patriots to despair of the Republic. But I am yet hopeful, and have an abiding confidence in the masses of the people. I can not believe that they will suffer scheming, designing, and misguided politicians to endanger the palladium of our liberties. The world is interested in the experiment of this Government. There is no new con- tinent on earth whereon to rear such another fabric. It is im- possible that ours can be broken without becoming fragmentary, chaotic, and anarchical. I know of no confederacy with other States which could hold out greater inducements or stronger bonds of fraternity than were extended to us in 1844. The people of Texas are satisfied with the Constitution and the Union as they are. ·They are even willing to enlarge it by further wise, peaceful, and honorable acquisitions. If there is a morbid and dangerous sentiment abroad in the land, let us endeavor to allay it by teaching and cultivating a more fraternal feeling. I would, therefore, recommend the adoption of resolutions dis- senting from the assertion of the abstract right of secession, and refusing to send deputies, for any present existing cause, and urging upon the people of all the States, North and South, the necessity of cultivating brotherly feeling, observing justice, and attending to their own affairs. Sam Houston. 1 Jo1irnal of the House of Representatives, State of Texas, 1860, pp. 450- 463; W. C. Crane, Ufe and Select Litemry Remains of Sam Ho113ton, pp. 621-631. The House Jowrnal from which this copy was made, gives the date of the message as January 21; Crane gives the date as January 24; otherwise the two copies are identical. A number of newspapers of the state commented on this message, most of them adversely. The Harrison Flag, February 10, 1860, seems to this annotator to have given the fairest and most unbiased discussion of it. To LEWIS CASS 1 Austin, Texas, 23d. Jany. 1860. . My Dear General I have learned that H. L. Kenney [Kin- ney]/ a member of the Legislature of Texas, has been presented
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