Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/406

 since induced Col. Monroe to act as he has acted in regard to Texas and her Commissioner, and has created the convention of twenty-three persons, who have lately proclaimed New Mexico a State.

"In all these movements tending to the existence of New Mexico as a State, the people had taken no part up to the 116th of April last; on which day I left Santa Fé for Philadelphia. The speculators had. Every one of the persons who aided to produce the events which have since occurred there I know personally; and every one is a Government employé, as well as a speculator—and in one case, peculator. What I say, Mr. Editor, I can prove at any time and place, by witnesses; and hold myself ready so to do. Nor have I told you scarcely anything yet, compared with what I will endeavor to state, of the manner in which the people of the United States are robbed, in New Mexico, by men who have held sway there, and who are trying still to hold it under the new aspect of things. Should you deem any information, which I may be able to give you, worthy of publication, it is at your service.

"Yours respectfully,

Now, sir, can any one suppose that this is the whole history of the cause which led to the maltreatment of the Texan Commissioner, or the consequences which are to flow from it? No. A Constitution is to be sent here by New Mexico, under the supervision and direction of the President of the United States and his Cabinet, and presented as a firebrand to produce additional distraction in the councils of this nation, and, if possible, to defeat every salutary measure intended for the reconcilement of the difficulties which now exist. The non-action policy of the Executive and his Cabinet is fraught with every mischief; it brings with it no soothing influence for the restoration of peace and harmony; it is only calculated to continue excitement, and increase existing evils. If New Mexico presents a Constitution, all the advocates of the administration will rally to the support of the measure; which will be urged by all the influence of position, and advanced by all the power of patronage. In what situation then will Texas be placed? Will not all those who sympathize with her situation and respect her rights, rally to her rescue, determined to vindicate her honor? It will be a conflict then of a sovereign State contending for her rights and privileges on the one hand, whilst military usurpation and sovereign power will be struggling to defeat her rights, and crush her spirit, on the other. This can not be done; but the very apprehension of such a course as the one contemplated by the Executive, is fraught with calamity and distress to the country. No one acts without a motive; and it is fair to suppose that the object which is aimed at is a continuance of the present men in power by a reelection of the present Executive. As one of the signs manifest, I discover in the letter of Hugh N. Smith, when urging New Mexico to adopt a State Constitution, that votes, votes are wanted here to secure influence, and consequently, if New Mexico is admitted, it will increase the States in the Presidential election. Sir, the horse is already upon the track; already has the administration organ announced General Taylor as a candidate for re-election. Why, sir, what sort of conduct is this on the part of the Administration; which should be alive to everything calculated to harmonize the country. Even the high object of the Presidential office, when brought into the scale against the union, peace, and prosperity of more than twenty millions of freemen, should be placed beneath the heel of all honorable patriots; yet this additional cause of excitement is at