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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
dom. These meetin('J's were denounced, just as this one is, as treason- able and rebellious. b But disregarding the insulting language of the minions of Government- and unawed by the threats which were thrown out by those in power- they still persevered in the assertion of their ri('J'ht.s, insi~ting upon a repeal of the objectionable laws and a total abstinance fro·rn all similar legislation. 'rhere was however in the country a class of people who, though they united in condemning the course· of Go,·erment as oppressive & unjust, yet preferred to submit to her encroachments, rather than come under the ban of her dis- pleasure and prosqription by disobedience to her mandates. These were not few nor very silent. Clamerous for a while against oppression, yet unwilling to throw it off- opposed to the obnoxious Acts, yet more bitter against those who were for refusing obedience to them, they were finally persuaded to drop this equivocal course; and taking sides with Government they came out openly the advocates of all the powers to which she laid claim. It was thus that the American people be- came divided into two great political parties; the one in favor of an- nulling the selfish enactments of the Government, and the other in favor of submitting to their impoverishing operation. The names of those two parties it is now useless to mention- it is with principles that we have to deal and not with names. The Party on the side of the Colonies and in favor of annulling the laws held a language like this- "It is tr,ue (said they) that our :Mother country is our legiti- mate Government, and willingly will we obey her in all equitable leg- islation but if she do not repeal her offensive acts; and desist in future from further abuses of the powers with which she is intrusted, we shall be compelled to take redress into our own hands; and if nothing else will do- if driven to extremities we will separate from her, and painful as it may be, the ocean already a natural division, shall be made the political boundary between us." This was the language of the State-Right man of that day. True, he was not called by that name, for he bore then as he does now, the honorable appellation of rebbel and of traitor. The other party who took sides with the Gov- ernment against the Colonies, and believed it the highest of crimes to oppose the King & Parliament, held some such an argument as this. They said "What does it signify to have a Government if the Colonies are at liberty to throw off such laws as may chance not to please them? It is no government at all that cannot enforce its mandates against t.he . will of the governed. The People (said they) owe no alligeance to the Colonies, but owe it to the British Crown anu. of consequence cannot defend their rights without committing treason ; therefore they dare not tuke redress into their own hands, and still less ham they the right to withdraw from the :\!other Government. EYery attempt at the ope or the other- at self-redress, or separation- will he pun- ished as trea:;on by the scaffold, or as rebellion by the bayonet." This was the lnn:,!nng-e uf the suhmis~ion man of that day. True he was not calle<l hy that 11anw, for he hore the <'miahle & 1lignified one o-f faithful. lo~·al & most ohNlil'nt subject. Let those who hm·c inherited his printipl<'s ancl spirit hoa;:t also of th,,ir great loyalty nnd allegiance. The tliflic11lties liehret>n the Colonie;: & the government, becoming irrcconc·ilnhl<', a sanguinary war ensued between them. Ancl in that memorable conteH where do we find the State Right man? We find
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