WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1860
554
well known that the South is considered as bought and paid for by the politicians, and they have the receipt. It has been made the scape-goat so long, that it is deemed that there is no escape for it now; and no difference what dangerous heresies are per- sonified in the nominee, the South must support him, in obedience to Conventional dictation, under the sham pretext that it is the only course by which our political salvation can be secured!! If my name should be used in connection with the Presidency, the movement must originate with the people themselves, as well as end with them. I will not consent to have my name submitted to any Convention, nor would I accept a nomination, if it were ·tendered me, and procured by contrivance, trick or management. If such a thing were possible, that I could be elected and not in harmony with the voice of the majority of the American people, I would not hold the position a single day, but retire to private station, solaced by self-respect. Thine Truly, Sam Houston. 1 The Southeni lntelligence1·-Extra, April 4, 1860. The lntelligence1· was usually very friendly to Houston in its editorials, and prefacing this letter there was an editorial comment strongly in his favor. The letter was also published by The True Issue, April 13, 1860, and The Ha1·ri,son Flag, April 27, 1860. 2 For some data concerning John Woods Harris, see Volume V, 314. 3 Daniel D. Atchison (April 7, 1820-October 21, 1867) was born in Fayette County, Kentucky, four miles from Lexington. He · was the son of John and Elizabeth Atchison, who both died in 1833, leaving the boy an orphan. He was educated at Center College, Danville, Kentucky, and at the Harvard Law School, from which he graduated with the class of 1844. He returned to Lexington, Kentucky, and opened his law office. There he practiced his profession until 1846, when he decided to move to Texas. Arriving in Texas, May 1, 1846, he settled in Galveston, and became the partner of William Alexander; some years later he became associated with George W. Brown, United States District Attorney. Atchison took little hand in politics, but from the time of his arrival in Texas was an admirer of Sam Houston, and stood with him in his views on most of the public matters of the time. He was one of the "Old Guard," who formed Houston's personal escort at the time of the celebrated speech at Tremont Hotel in 1861. Atchison practiced law in Galveston for a long time, and during this time he filled several positions of public trust, the longest of these services being that of clerk of the Supreme Court of Texas for twelve years. Scholar and linguist that he was, he never sought distinction on the pub- lic platform, nor in print, for he preferred a quiet life devoted to profes- sional duties. On January 20, 1847, he was married to Frances Alexander, daughter of J. R. Alexander, of Woodford, Kentucky. She died at Galveston in July
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