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WRITINGS OF SAl\I HOUSTON, 1847
545
all the evils connected with it, and not justify the anticipations of disunion amongst us. Disunion here? He could not bear the word. Let not the name of Texas, his home, the last to be in- corporated into this Union, ever be blasphemed by the word "disunion." Let not the Union be severed. The boon we possess is too rich, too mighty, and too grand-the sum of human hap- piness we enjoy is too great, the amount of liberty is too precious! This question was not raised for 011r good. Why, was not the North dependent on the South? And was not the South dependent on the N01·th? Would it not be to each a suicidal act? and to both destruction? Disunion! It was a monster; and if he could, he would seize upon its mane, drag it forth, and inspect its scales, and if it had a penetrable spot, he would strike it to the vitals. He relied on the intelligence of the country to avoid that agitat- ing question. He would postpone it. It was an evil ·which ought not to be invited; but when it shall come, let it be managed with the judgment of reasonable men, and not by passionate excite- ment. He had been very sorry to ·hear the war denounced as an unjust war, and as a small war. He was not going now to debate that subject. He was, however, perfectly satisfied that the Presi- dent could not have pursued a course different from the one which he did pursue. He should give the President all the support which he deserved as the Chief Magistrate of the nation. He is our ruler under the Constitution, and we enjoy the blessings of that instrument under God. The President has been placed at the head of this Gove1·nment by the voice of a free people, and he should therefore give the President that aid which the necessities of the country require, reserving to himself at all times to ques- tion the propriety of his proceedings. It was a duty which they owed to the country to cooperate with and sustain the Executive in the present crisis. So fa~· as he had power to do it, as a repre- sentative of the American people, he would do it for the honor of the country. He would do it to enable the President to secure the success of our arms. He would do it for the purpose of humbling Mexico, and producing a peace as immediate as possible. He regarded the President of the United States as situated like Moses in the olden time. It was necessary that Israel, that chosen and favored people, should go to war with the Amalekites-for territory; he granted it was. Moses directed Joshua to select chosen young men to go out and fight against the Amalekites, and
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