138
TE-HS STATE LIBR,\RY
ings which custom pays to the dignity of titles, but the warm tribute which generous natures tlraws from the deep uncorrupted stores of the heart. 'fell me this and I will prize them higher than the gold of Crassus or the crown of Caesar. 0, gentlemen, I think you have known me long enough, to know that gold with me is lighter than a crickets bones ,vhen weighecl against the durable affections of a virtu- ous mind. And what is Glory? At be.st it is but an Aurora borecilis; a light that corruscates, but gives nor warmth nor life. I sigh for neither. Others may deh·e in the cl ark mines for hidden treasure, or toil for the laurel wr~ath in the stormy ranks of war; but for myself, I ask no treasure but a quiet conscience; no fame but the smiles of affection from the friends I lo,·e. These I know I have. I feel it in my bosom; I see it in every eye; I read it on every brow. Generous friends, how shall I repay your kindness? Here is my heart, and here is hand; "I give you all- I can no more, "-a heart that beats warmly for human liberty and the weal of all, and a hand ever ready to sui':tain what the heart may feel. But gentlemen, I must not allow the flattering attentions of the day to banish from memory th~.home of my adoption. We are apt to foriret in the hours of hilarity' and social enjoyment, the distant ob- jects of attachment to lavish our affections on those that are smiling by; but under no circumstances, prosperous or arlverse, can I forget the country that has giren me her confidence and lavished upon me all the honors that I erer wore. Hail generous Texas ! the loveliest of a thom;nncl lands, whose vallies are all smiling; whose daughters are all fair and whose sons are all brave. Amidst "the feast. of pleasure and the flow of soul" thy beauties are remembered still. I see thy green pastures, thy luxuriant fields, thy smiling lakes-all, all are floating before my mind's delighted eye, and wake a rapture which I want the power to express. 0, gentlemen, Texas is well worthy of all the sympathies which have been excited in her behalf. 'fhe richest gifti': of J>ro,·idence are there-all that nature can bestow, and all the heart should ask- a soil prolific and diversified; adaptell to the full matnrity of e,·ery produc-tion of the temperate zone-a climate de- lightful and invigorating-water as pure as the springs that sparkle from the Hor-ky mountains, and a hardy race of enterprising people who appret·iate the blessings they enjoy ancl stand prepared to main- tain nllll proter·t them. I beseech ~·ou to discard the vulgar slander, that this hrnutifu] region is the abocle of the worthless and the wicked, wh,·rt· ,·it:1• ii' pef:tilrntial and Yirtue laugherl to !-c·orn. Tis no sl'.l'ch thing- ti~ fali':<>hoo,l nll. Surh notions onre were mine: arnl I car- rircl an undue portion or tlw prejucliee with me when .l hiil adieu to mv nutin.' :State. Ancl a:-:k rou wherefore I went? I answer not for gol,l or glory- my sole ohj<>c:t, being to airl in the great strug~le which m1i-: pc•11ding hl'twee11 l><>:-potii'.'m and Bigotry on the one :-:irle, arnl CiYil 1111.J n•ligi1111,: liberty on the other. Truth, .Tu:-:ti,·e, frrerlom were as- Faill',l. and I fl'lt it my ,Int,· to lie• there. Hut I had :-t·ar<"eh· entered tht• 1·011li11l',: or th" ,;,nito,:~. an,1 ;.!ilZl'cl 11p11n iti': :-:urpiw,i1i~ beauty :t)l(I 1·0111i11J.d1•d with it,- highti•ned ~pirit:- of 1·hirnlr)·, than J felt the folh· a11d i11j11"1i1·l' nf Ill)" pn·ju,lil'e:;: and the la1ul that 11] eame to aid · front pri11<·iple, I wai-: 110w as l'l'all_,· to tlefe111l from nffel'tion; f~r I found i11 that land, hrnlth, beauty a1Hl fertility; 11ml in its population,
Powered by FlippingBook