WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1845
415
for the Congress of the U States and the President to reject any such action. They would not surely be willing, to inflict such a scandal upon the present enlightened age, as the encouragement, or sanction of such a course would be. Another thing may by some persons be suggested to you, and that is (if the President has chosen his position in declining the proposition as presented) "to drive him from his position, and a.ppeal to the people" !!! Of such suggestions, I pray you beware? For I can conceive of no course 01· curse, so fruitful of evils to free Government; and subversive of all rule among men as this would be! It would soon pi·oduce its effects even in the United States. The President might desire to execute the law, but if occasion prompted, seditionists [would] quote the act of Texas, as a warrant & example for their resistance to the Federal authorities! Nevertheless there are individuals in Texas, who would will- ingly adopt any course or pursue any measure which they might believe to be adverse to my opinions, or that would prostrate the present administration. They would do this though it should destroy the country. They are men who, wish to live, upon the means, of the Government, without labor, and feast, and riot upon the substance of the people, without merit. Such men are like vermin, in the dead carcas-they can live only in corruption. Now my dear friend for the sake of human Liberty, for the sake of the future tranquility of the U States, and for the pros- perity of Texas, whose interests, prosperity, & happiness, are near to my heart, and cherished by me above every political consideration, I conjure you, to use your influence, in having presented to this Government, the alternative suggested by the amendment to Mr. Brown's bill, so that commissioners can act in conjunction upon the points which it may be proper to arrange between the two countries before it is too late and while there is a remedy. The newspaper press, with, I believe, the organ of the Government of the U States, expect, the alternative amendment to be presented to Texas, that she may exercise some choice, as to the condition of her entry into the Union!! I cannot say what would be proper for the commissioners to agree upon; but I would suggest, that Texas, if admitted into the Union should enjoy full equality, and community with the other States of the Confederacy. That the U States, should receive, and pay T'exas, a liberal price for her public property, which has been acquired for national purposes, and that the amount should
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