Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/408

 war with Mexico, on one occasion—for I remember the publication that was made on the subject—that the information which was embodied in the dispatches read by me, was derived from an ex-Governor of Texas, then in command of those troops; and that if they were misrepresentations the Governor was the author of them. That Governor, I believe, denied that this was true. Whoever was the author of the calumny, I will not pretend to say; for as the Generals are both in high positions, it would be a piece of arrogance for one so humble as I am to decide a question of such delicate import. It is a question of veracity between one who occupies the mansion at the other end of the Capitol, and another who is the ex-Governor of a State, and the sole representative of the sole lone star of Texas in the late Nashville Convention—and self-constituted at that. Yet, however the matter may stand between those Generals, Texas shall not be undeservedly slandered without an effort on my part to vindicate her reputation.

Well, sir, the Nashville Convention—I have no right to speak harshly of the meritorious gentlemen composing that Convention—never has been a pet of mine. I thought I discovered an inkling of such manœuvres some two or more years ago, but I do not desire to occupy the time of the Senate by telling what I then thought, and I will content myself with saying, that it never has been a pet of mine. If there ever was a time for such a thing, I have never seen it. If it was called in contravention of the Constitution, and in violation of its proceedings, I do not think well of it. The Constitution declares, that no one or more States shall enter into any compact or agreement without the consent of Congress; and I do not believe Congress was ever consulted on the subject. If it meant anything, it was contrary to the Constitution, because it must be a compact or agreement; if it v/as not intended to make a compact or agreement, then I must think it was a piece of ridiculous flummery, and not particularly entitled to my respect, though the individuals who composed it may be. Now, that is my opinion in regard to the Nashville Convention. In view of the fact, that not more than two hundred and fifty votes out of thirty thousand were given in Texas for a representative to this Convention; and as it is the fact, since I have occupied the floor since this subject has been agitated, I avail myself of this opportunity—in the face of this assembly of the conscript fathers of America—in the face of the American people and the civilized world—in the face of all order — for order is the first law of Heaven—and in the face of my Creator—as I believe it to be inimical to the institutions of my country—to disdain and protest against that Convention and its action, so far as Texas is concerned. Yes, sir, I do it from my heart, and 1 know the declarations will meet a response in the hearts of thousands who are imbued with a pure love of the Union, and who have rushed to it as an asylum from all surrounding difficulties. Think you, sir, that after the difficulties they have encountered to get into the Union, that you can whip them out of it? No, sir. New Mexico can not whip them out of it, even with the aid of United States troops. No, sir!—no, sir! We shed our blood to get into ii, and we have now no arms to turn against it. But we have not looked for aggression upon us from the Union. We have looked to the Union of these States and its noble course to vindicate our rights, and to accord to us what in justice we claim—what we have ever claimed—and less than which we can never claim.

The honorable Senator from New York [Mr. Seward], yesterday when