Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/404

 power to attempt to remove the difficulties before referred to, inciting a portion of the people within the limits of a State, and without its consent, to erect themselves into a State Government; this is a palpable violation of the Federal Constitution; and, sir, such usurpation can not long remain sovereign in Texas. I trust her rights will soon be restored, and exist for ages inviolate, contributing a full share to the perpetuity of this Union. But the consummation of this great object can only be achieved by proper respect on the part of the Federal Government for the rights of States by which it is constituted, and not by permitting the Federal authorities to trespass upon the members of the Union, because they may suppose that the States are unable to resist military oppression. For aught I know, Texas may be regarded by the Executive or his Cabinet as a mere picket, or a corporal's guard, and may be treated accordingly. Accustomed to the camp and field, he may imagine that he has only to issue his order to be obeyed, and that the soldiers and the bayonets which have upheld his power for forty years are to be instrumental in carrying out his present purposes. If this be his idea of sovereign power it is fallacious. And, sir, when the Executive taunts Texas, and says that there is no danger of any practical interference on her part, he is wrong; Texas is loyal and devoted, but she is sensitive too. She always appreciates her adversaries, she loves her friends, and when duty bids her take her stand she never counts her enemies. The army of the United States, marched there to enforce a wrong upon her, would be weak and powerless. She will not submit to wrong; she asks for nothing but what is right. Every military act which has taken place at Santa Fé, calculated to embarrass the exercise of her authority there, has been an encroachment upon her rights, and every attempt now made to countenance or sustain the action which has been taken already, will be but the continuance of aggression, and an effort to destroy her authority as a State. Had Texas, on her part, at any time, pursued a course of conduct not calculated to promote the best feeling with the military authorities at Santa Fé, there might be some extenuation found for their conduct; now it is left without palliation or apology. The commissioner sent by Texas to Santa Fé was a gentleman of manly and sterling qualities. How did he demean himself? In a manner becoming the character which he bore, and the interesting mission which he had to execute. He was respected by all, and his mission promised to be successful; and no doubt it would have been so, had not the military power been employed to resist him. That power, united with a clique (to whose character I shall directly advert, in order to show who they are, and what they are; how they got there, and what they are doing there, and what they intend to do, and their object in the formation of a State Government), to defeat the object of the commissioner. Yes, sir; this commissioner deported himself as an officer of his Government, as a soldier, who had passed through Indian trails, endured hardships, borne fatigues, and undergone privations within the territory to which he was then commissioned. He was only zealous to maintain the honor, and uphold the rights of his own State; he was worthy of his position, and most worthily did he conduct himself. I will now give a little insight into the character of those gentlemen who are so busily engaged in carving a new State within the limits of Texas. It is derived from a communication addressed to the editor of the Pennsylvanian, a highly respectable gentleman, and the editor of a highly respectable journal. The writer is from New Mexico, whose name is subject to the call of any gentleman.