§H F 35 VINDICATION FT MEADE GenCol 1 Jk- or A ^r\ v i. BfN O R TO N

ROM THE ATTACKS OF HIS. ENEMIES; MADE IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATORS,

APRIL 8th 1861.

t ^ - ;; > : l -NSC*’ COEEES P 0 N I) E N C E .

Gen. A. B. Norton :— AUSTIN, April, 1861, Sia: The undersigned, having been as.«o Gentlemen : dated with you in the State Legislature, and In response to your kind favor, I furnish believing you to be true to our rights, and be 1 erewith a copy of my remarks, believing it ing desirous that the people of the State may due to my friends and associates that the truth know your position, we respectfully request should be known, and a foul calumny thereby that you will furnish for pub'icafion your re dispelled, marks made in the House on the 8th iust. “There are many devils that walk thi3 world Austin, April 9 th 1861. Devils great and devils small, Geo. McKnight, Wm. Smith, Devils with tails and devils without;” Devils who whisper, devils who shout, A. M. M. Up-haw, W. M. Bryce, Devils who mystify, devils who teach ; W. M. Owen, J. Lewter, But the Calumny Devil—as hard to reach J. W. Davis, A. F. Crawford/ As the snail, who, now safe and on some Em fry Rains,* B. F. Ross, distant beach, K. Bryan, • Joel Robinson, Is digesting the core of my favorite peach, T, H. Mdndine/ M. L. Armstrong, , Is the shabbiest devil of them all! Thankful for your good opinion and friend¬ S. J. Redgate, Geo. W. Whitmore, ship. which I prize, and with well wishes for J. E. Henry/ W. E. Middleton* your prosperity, I am, respectfully, • F. B. H. Epperson, Wrede, Yours, &e., James H. Duncan' A. C. Hyde, A. B. NORTON. * Thos. Lewellyn' N. H. Darnell, Meesrs, • icKnight, Ms id. Smith, H. P. Mabry, H H. Edwards, W. B. Middlrt J. L. Haynes/ J. W. Throckmorton, A. G. Hyde, F. Wrede, D. M. Whaley, J. W. C add ell, & others N. H. Darnell,

8 0 1.

words meet this cowardly and infamous slan¬ Mr. Speaker— 1 rise, to a question jof der, in order, that I may stand “ rectus in personal privilege. For the first time in iny curia,” in the1 estimation of those with whom life; and greatly to my aversion, 1 am compelled I have been pleasantly and agreeably associa¬ to trouble a public body with ray persona' ted in this Legislature, ami who T have been grievance, and to ask, for what I may sav, the proud to call my friends ; not withstanding that Vvipdidjconsideration of those who hear rue — upon many grave questions which have occu¬ This, sir, 1 low do because this question of pied our attention, we have widely u.tiered. personal privilege upon which I am about.to but as gentlemen always, each having for the spuair, concerns not myself individually alone other proper respect and esteem. butaT^’is of importance to yourselves, ray To the charge ofAbolitionism,” and of associates in the Legislature, and all those who having been of such sentiments in this may have been socially or otherwise connected or elsewhere, I will cheerfully refer +<0 with me. I hold in my band, various papers, who have had opportunities of (mowing m\ containing charges eta very grave and serious character—some making the direct allegations true sentiments, in all the ^oedoni of social and private intercourse ^ >vei[ ;l3 the most —others doing the thing more covertly and slilv, by insinuation ana innuendo, all aimed violent ot my polecat opponents in the past. directly at the-same object and endeavoring to I stand th^., gir, among my peers, and accomplish my overthrow and ruin. in the ry^ence of Almighty God, the searcher of ail heart-, to whesn 1 shall in time coming To these, one and all, I shall reply in gene- be -duly accountable, and pronounce the charge- #rai terms, and squill ei deavor to occupy as brief and slanderous. I challenge scrutiny i time as possible, as I would not now need¬ false I defy investigation. lessly encroach upon the business of this Le¬ Briefly, 1 will refer to ray past course. * gislature. first entered into political lifu in the stormy 1 hold in my hand, sir, copies of the Marshal^ and trying times of 1810, as l)ne o: Jlrpublican, Dallas Herald, Belton Democrat, : t Sentinel, Tyler Reporter, Jefferson Her yd. and the electors toi WiidaTJ ^.enry Harrison, the (dazet'e, J ffersonian, Enquirer, }Iov>'t,T anq va> true- hearted son o> immortal old Ben, who, nous other papers published in afferent points •with John uayCOck and Thomas Jefferson, in this State and outside ol^ which have in signed tb?3 declaration of American Indepen¬ one torm and another utterance to f&ls** dence. I with “ fervency and zeal ” supported ••barges against m ^ which have been reitera that man who, in 1S10, as a member of Con¬ gress voted against restric.'inq Missouri in her t-0 'm cr-4ftTnns of the city papers, and ti- Constitutional rights, and w-s one of those naiiy iheir appearance in the official or- members from noa-slaveholdiug states, who g'a < of the LegLlature and the Convention.— voted in favor of Missouri coming into the the Stale Gazette. And having assumed this Union upon the same terms as other States, and semi-official form, I am constrained to notice Wts of the Ab lit ion i.sts to d - in rny official position attacks from persons to price her of the right to recognise slavery in her whom 1 would otherwise give as wide a char¬ Constitution, and for this exalted self devotion, he ter as the wind to olovv on me when it listeth, was turned out of office, thus sacrificing him¬ preferring their ribald abuse and denunciation self upon the altar of Southern rights :—,for to their praise. that man who declared in his speech in Che¬ The papers, sir, contain the charge and alle¬ viot, Ohio, in 1633, that “the discussion of the gation, that you have in your body an aboli¬ subject of emancipation in the non-slaveholding tionist: and that the representative who now states, is equally injurious to the slaves and addresses you is that man. If this charge he their masters, and has no sanction in the true, have you not for months and years quietly Principles of the Constitution ;—and for rad tacitly permitted an enemy of the South, that man who, in an address at Vincennes, in¬ ind one seeking to destroy the institutions oi veighed in the strongest terms against emanci¬ ,our country, to hold a seat upon this floor in pationists, denouncing their claims as “ weak, violation of the oath which yourselves as well presumptuous, and unconstitutional, and implored as himself have taken to support ? Have you the citizens of the North-West to frown upon iot thereby proven recreant to your trust? measures which must “ eradicate those feelings Hare you not suffered a stigma to be placed of attachment and affection between the citizens upon the fair escutcheon of Texas? And will of all the States, which was produced by a you not justly be condemned by your consti¬ community of interests and dangers in the war tuency and the entire people of the South ? of the revolution,—which was. the foundation This, sir, is the view I take of the subject of our happy Union, and by a continuance ef send it is because, uader the circumstances 1 which, it cun alone he preservedE In this ad¬ deem it a matter of duty, that J shall in a few dress he contended that “ the people of the aou- 9 slaveholding states are not warranted by the from Banning Norton, in which he denounced Constitution in molding meetings and h:u- all such sentiments of expediency advanced by JJSHINU SPEECHES AGAINST THE DOMESTIC INSTK the Doctor and declared that tlie \\ hig party TtmoNs of the .south.”—lor that man who in was not dead as asserted by Mr. Browning, 1836, in a letter to Thos. Sloo, jr., of New Or¬ that it was founded in the immortal principles leans, Said 111 do not belive that Congress can of protection and paper currency, taught by Clay, abolish slavery in the States, or in any manner by Webster, by Adams, and by Hamilton, that interfere with the property of the citizens in their although parties and organizations might slaves,”—‘*1 do not believe that Congress can change, their imperishable and immortal prin¬ abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, ciples never would ; that they were the nucleus without the consent of Virginia and Maryland around which one m'llion four hundred thou¬ and the people of the District.” sand Whigs rallied at the last Presidential In the contest of 1844, with increased vigor election. That he regarded Dr. Dyer’s resolu¬ and zeal, I canvassed and worked as an ( lector tion, as a movement on the part of Mj. Brown¬ for tjie best abused man by Texian politicians ings the Fredericktown clique and a tew others and demagogues the noble patriot Henry Clay, to sell the Whig party, ‘* body and breeches/” the great-hearted commoner, who in the hour to the Abolitionists! That for bimaeri, be of darkest peril to Texian Independence, dona¬ thanked God. that as a Knox eojfcjv Whig, and ted to her cause from Ins own scanlv means, as an old line Henry Clay Whig, hc^ievir $1000 in hard money. In 1848, for Zachary would get down on his knees to a'$k the A bolition Taylor, the immortal hero of Buena Vista; and \party who, in their pleasure, thejr^woind permi t iu 1852 for Winfield Scott, the gallant conque¬ Whigs to vote for. That he hated and con¬ ror of Vera Cruz, and the old chief who planted temned the Abolition Party; that they had the star spangled banner on the walls of the always reviled and execrated V hig leaders, that city of the Montezumas. they had denounced “ old Zack," and abused, I'have watched closely and with a hostile j villilied, and misreprented the gallant Henry eye, the progress of Abolition, from the day Clay and that although they had aided the when the little speck was not larger than a | Whigs to elect Hurd and Smith, and Farquhai* man's hand, till the large black cloud has S and Windora, nevertheless they did so from feel- spread desolation and ruin upon our wide ex¬ lings purely selfish : that their damnable designs tended country. , were now palpable from their efforts to swal- I opposed it when Samuel Morris, ex-demo- \ low up the Whig party; (Uiat thc-ir des gas cratic U. S. Senator oi ’'Ohio, a native of the were perfectly understood by old line Whigs ; Old Dominion, was its national standard bear- j that he abjured all affinity with them, and that er,—when James G. Barney, the apostate son ! he had sworn before bi3 God never to cohabit of the South was its chosen head,—when Mar- | or have connection with Abolitionists! That lie tin Van Buren, the peculiar favori.e ct the I hid sworn eternal hostility to ail parties, fac¬ South as a democratic President, lead its col¬ tions and organizations, that were not Whigs ! umn,—when John P. Hale, the elected demo- i That HE DENOUNCED THE TEMPERANCE ALLIANCE cratic U. S. Senator of New Hampshire, inar- ! as a political organization, whose aim and ob¬ shaded its hosts,—when John C. Fremont, an | ject was to rule; that he had the means of other apostate son of South Carolina, almost proving it such; that he knew its leaders ; that achieved a victory,—and when Lincoln, a na¬ they were men who made temperance a stalk¬ tive of Kentucky, lead the hordes of Black Ee-! ing horse, under which they concealed their publicans amid the ruins of our beloved coun¬ more damnable and profitable designs, and that try, triumphantly to the National Capitol! | in conclusion he called upon the Clay Wines Throughout all its course 1 have ever stead¬ to “Stick to the Ranks,” to “die with the har¬ fastly and firmly opposed its onward march. ness on their backs !”— to prove themselves the That such was my conduct in Ohio, and that “ old guard of the principles taught by Clay, I enter* lined these views when a citizen of a by Adams, by Hamilton, and the “ worthies of free state and in the midst of the enemy, is ’76,”—that the Whigs were not dead, but have true, and 1 will proceed to maintain it by the been “ sleeping upon their arms,”—that they record* had but to arouse themselves, shake off the I now read sir, brief extracts from the papers dew drops that glittered upon their garments, “of the democratic party—and give you the tes- and come forth to battle and to victory.” # $ timc1 y of men with whom I com bailed as Another article 1 cite from the Democratic strongly and as warmly as I have ever done Banner as showing more conclusively the posi¬ with any in Texas. tion I held in that State and also that main¬ From the Democratic Banner, the organ of tained by my friends:

the Democracy of Knox county, Ohio, August “ The. Fugitive Slave Ism'f 23a, .1353, I extract from a two column arti¬ “ Let it be borne in mind, that the Fugitive cle under the following caption: “The great Slave Law was essentially a WHIG MEASURE war talk in the wigwam of the enemy! Attempt —it was projected by Henry Clay, passed by a to sell out the 1 Old Line Whig* ’ to the Aboli¬ Whig Congress, and APPROVED BY A WHIG tionists !” PRESIDENT, The Norton and Jones “JL’he remarks of Doctor Dyer upon a motion, (Jones, my cousin was the U. S. Marshal of declaring it inexpedient to nominate a Whig Ohio during the Taylor and Fillmore adminis¬ ticket and recommending a fusion with the tration and executed and enforced that law •Temperance alliance and “ Free-ooilers,” called faithfully during his terra of office,) Convention forth a powerful and most withering pbillipic in this city, nominated a ticket composed chief- Jy of FUGITIVE SLA VE. LAW WHIGS, and ‘•Mass Convention of the Whies and Am: it the woolly beaded editor of the African organ u: an Party c f Ohio.—Opposition to C has as The Times, declared in open convention, “ I do and Fusion.— [fun. Allen Trimble nominal d f»r feel that we should insult the people of this Governor. * . |* * * Count// b/i forininy such a iick'■ * •::' I names of John Davenport, of Belmont, the “ Jones and Norton publicly proclaimed that President and twenty-one Vice Presidents, add thev would support Whigs, and none but Whips, Secretaries, &c. From the address of Judge and that if frce-soilers were nominated, they Davenport on takiag the chair, 1 take a brie f would defeat than. This was no child’s threat. extract : then meant it: naf, they not only meant it, but “We cannot but consider that Lis (Chase) they have given proofs ot their sincerity. antecedents asr a politician render him entirely * -> They out-plan and out- unlit for a high office at the hands of the peo¬ mameuvre the Free Soilers : and every blow ple. We all remember the means by which he they have dealt, has been a death stroke. obtained and procured his election to fhe UnU The Nort ri t-iumph is complete ; but the ted States Senate, and that the whole Whig slyest, and to our taste, the richest lick Norton party of Ohio at the Lime denounced it as eor- ' gave, was the front-face blow dealt Ben Smith rr.pt and unfair. But if that were all, we might [since then a Republican Representative], .still be content to go to the polls and cast our blacking both his eyes,.end fairly taking the suffrages for such other candidates as we could wind out of bis puffy sites. Oily Gammon suf¬ support, simply declining to vote for him. I fered some that's t rue, and Norton was fully re¬ know that in alluding to that genleman's past venged on N'mith for giving the printing to the history and present position as a sectional agi¬ Times. They have nominated a ftUl-blooded, tator. and in pronouncing his election now aa old line, stiff back W hig ticket. endorsement of ideas and conduct dangerous In 1848, I was one of the few men in the to the existence of the nation, we shall be Buckeye State to rally around “Taylor with scoffed at and stigmatised by the cant term of his 280 niggers.” and to manfully contend with ■“ Union Savers.” the enemies of our rights—to contribute ot my We shall be sneered at lor saying that our means liberally to found presses ; and in that reasons for so believing him, consist in the and'all other campaigns by my pen and upon conviction that the principles and objects of the stump, I did all that one ot my humble that gentleman and his political friends cavmok ability and influence could do to sling, goad be practically affected and carried on:, without and crush Abolitionism. imperiling the Union of these States. It is When Salmon P. Chase—the leading demo¬ strange, lamentably strange, that we have fal¬ crat of Ohio, and ex U. S. Senator, elected by len upon tiiue3 so full of evil, that devotion to democratic Aotes—the present Secretary of the the permanency of this Republic is to be treat¬ Treasury under Mr. Lincoln, perigrinated the ed with taunts, jeers and derision. But this ♦-state, in his various canvasses for abolition, I j slate of public sentiment, if so it may be call- invariably and in every instance opposed him; j i d, should only serve to quicken our effort^for and, sir, when he was fust nominated for Gov¬ the maintenance of our Union.” ernor, 1 joined in the call for a mass meeting j From the speech of Gen; /Stan berry, I extract of Whigs and Americans at the capitol ot the tiie following; slate to devise means of accomplishing bis de¬ “He had only attended as a member of ’this feat; ar.d that you may judge of the temper, Mass Convention to save, if he might aid in do¬ tonefand spirit of the times and of those who ing so, the* State of Ohio from the disgrace of electing an Abolition^Governor. According f fanaticism. 1 would refer to the account oi I to the morals and manners of certain parties aid meeting in the Ohio “ Statesman,” the or- j in these degenerate times, said Mr, 8., it seems •an of the democratic party of Ohio, edited and that the word “patriotism” had come to mean >ablished by Sam. Medary, “the wheel horse merely “hatred of the|^3outh.” H#--"Spurned >f Ohio democracy,”—known to many of this the unworthy thought. )ody, and particularly to my friends from Bex- What had caused this infatuation of Aboli¬ ir, (Mr. Waelder) and from Smith, (Mr. Hub¬ tionism in inculcating the sentiments of sec¬ bard), who.sat under his ministrations as Fre- tional ill-feeling bv which themselves were ■ ident of the “National Democratic Convention solelv animated? We owe much—wc of the it Cincinnati, in 1850.’ 4

North— very much, of all our boasted prosper- j Mr. N. pledged his unflagging efforts to the ity here to Southern labor, Southern money, support of Hon. Allen Trimble, as the repre¬ Southern products, Southern trade and South¬ sentative of the national views of the •‘Ameri¬ ern markets. We owe three-fourths of our can partv,:’ and their principles as enemies to flourishing, shipping interests to the cotton, the disunion tendencies of the Fusion nominee. ,vng?r and tobacco of our Southern brethren. Mr. N. pronounced the proceedings of the Fu- The institution of slavery is of no damage to I sion Convention an unprincipled bargain, . V* ii«ui Aden I grouud to stun i >. n, or any common mediator ^wafi r od. proposing tue Maine of 3»o M j between them? Recollect, that on this issue Trimble f >r Governor, the applause was mo enthusiastic and l<*tig continued, at th close of | you will have no vote in the Slave states ; co which the Rand was c id d on to play the national party intermingling with the people; >n, but. there Kn'uwWIpahglet Buuner." which was given, and cheer-j no calm forum of public discus*w, ul to the echo again and again. j will be these two sectional arrays, iarkly nail Addresses were then made by various gen- i an£nT frowning upon cad, otner ! Are »n tlemen. who like ‘ Mr. CUVger, lampooned the! prepared for,this? Ar^you prepared to risk .his great RepubliCfOn the angry waves of a- political character of Mr. Chase without men sectiunal storm ! This 14the sole issue which nurc.” I was the last speaker, ami the 1‘.States . ' i I Mr.i r IChase nsA PT\(1and liis ecuteaerales have delibe- man” gives the substance ot my remarks. j‘at. !y made, and wo cannot avoid it if we" This gentleman is thf leading editor of tb, Oo«li«->!al. iu-t ejublishcd in this city (in wouli VWhat hot maynnj we conjecture is their ob- opposition t. tbi eld Whig puper) as the argah l*et t 1 a*’*"1 aml' ton wl>‘: W 0 of (lie iiirortniaible American party ol Ohio. I w » *>*«.» « » hvmwm mot.ve. i

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with which the mantle of charity tuny cover which I was addressing the people, torn down, their conduct. No sectional President, not and of having had a meeting, while I was one, has yet been elected, and who can fathom speaking, attacked by an abolition mob, headed ih^ consequence of such an event, if such should by Capt. Tom. Ford, the public printer of the ever occur ? We turn with dread from the present Black Republican Congress, at the mere contemplation of such a scene, and trust home of John Sherman, their late candidate, we may avoid it by the virtue, good sense, and for Speaker of the House,"and the recently the patriotism of toe people.” elected U. S. Senator of the Black Republicans How prophetic those words uttered in 1855 ! of Ohio. The Ides of March 1801, witnessed the inau¬ But. sir, the true men of Richland county, at guration of the first “ sectional President.” my call, rallied and dispersed them, end gave “The wide, the unbounded future lies before me a hearing, about midnight of the Saturday us. night prior to the election, by the light of bon¬ But shadows, clouds, and darkness rest up¬ fires upon the public square. Of all this, sir, on it." 1 have an account published in the Shield and ‘ From this evidence (and I have much other Hanner, a democratic paper of that county, ed¬ ited and controlled by John 5', Glessner—to that 1 could present, were it not for occupying too much ef vour time), I trust I have disa¬ this day, to his praise l can say, sir, a gentle¬ bused the minds of any who may have been man and a staunch National Democrat, if you led to imbibe a prejudice against me by the can consider such to be nn advocate of the vile attacks that have been made here to my Breckinridge ticket at the last election ! Thus treated sir. by the advocates of tree injury. If cumulative evidence were necessary. 1 soil and free speech in that vaunted land of need not refer to files <»f old papers publ'shid freedom, 1 made sacrifice, sir, of .all I had and in other States sinfce I have upon this tloor in j left the country. the person of the honorable representative from The enquiry came to me, as it did to the t Orange, (Mr. Smith.) my tirst preceptor, who ! God-like Daniel Webster, on another, in some j taught me my A B C>. end is*iiitimateiy ac¬ 1 respects like occasion, when he exclaimed— quainted with all of my family,*kno\vs their “ Where shall 1 go?” And. sir. the linger of conservative course and is a present living wit- Hope pointed me to Texas ! And, I may say, mss ol thiv correctness of my slat wienls. it directed me to this land, and my mind turned I stood .up for the rights cf the South, ar.d I to it, because the name had ever been den: to was denounced as a pro-slavery man in that my heart, tor around it were clustered mettso- country. I expended a handsome fortune in j ries of the past, and recollections that I could lighting the enemies of the Constitution at ! not efface. their own strongholds. 1 And here, sir, 1 will briefly refer to it, though “Bearded the lion in his den, it might ‘ bear the appearance of egotism:— The ‘Chase' in his hall.” yet in the peculiar position I occupy, where I used ray pen, my tongue, my purse, in de- my reputation, my character, my standing, %Jj;nceof the Constitution and the Union. I my life, and safety, and that of my wife and stood up for the cause of the country where little ones are involved, 1 may be pardoned and when it required more nerve and backbone for so doing. When 1 lie Mexican invaders to maintain one’s po?i ion then I have ever were about overpowering the feeble colonists known in Texas, evert in these troublous times. ; and the few soldiers of liberty in this, then re- I was bred up, reared, rw Union man and a ! mote land—when the cry for help anrl succor y Whig. That was the sin against the Holy was sent forth by Gen. Houston, and his brave Ghost for which 1 had to answ r. And, sir, i \ et suffering men, to the United States of the when that party of sound principles was over¬ 1 North—when from various quarters men, singly thrown, upon the passage of the Kansas bill— ■ and in companies, were rushing to the Bone the secret blade of Joab to the South—when a ; .Star standard—then, sir. it was that my father, change took place in one year in the political ! in the very heart of Ohio, took up the cause of status of the electors of that State, of 108,000 bleeding and poor Texas, and through his votes, and they had dived deep into the muddy ! means and instrumentality, sent to this land pool of abolitionism, I shook the dust from oil ! men and arms—then it was there came full my feet and determind to make my home and I company organized, armed and equipped to future abiding plate in this bright land ol pro¬ Ido service in your army. Notwithstanding l . mise. During that last campaign, sir, I bad 1 S. Marshals were trying to prevent the violation the honor of editing the Whig and American cf the neutrality laws in that way, and with organ of ti e State. I was chairman of the last | their writs were in hunt of the friends of Texas Whig (State Central Committee of that State ; I to arrest them, my father, sir, sent to your fields a:id. sir, 1 may remark in this connection that I free of expense and of cost to your government, inv father 1. ■ 1 s- rv <1 in that •'<*4 ity, in the i the Mount Vernon Ohio Volunteers— a corapa- first Whig Committee, when Mr. Clay was first i ny of wen—and assisted m sending others a candidate: and hence caii say, with truth, as I—ibe-v performed services 1 heir full t%rm an I did the great Irish orator, in his sad lamenta¬ I were honorably discharged, us the records con¬ tion,—“1 have rocked the liberty of my coun¬ clusively prove, and the rolls of the company « try in its cradle, and followed it:» hearse to the show not a single ,ui set ter, although many ol

grave 1” 1,hi nt died in service, and 1 do not at this day In rnv last canA'ass in Ohio, sir, I hrS. Government at would call special attention to it. the Court of Portugal -from whence he has now been re-culled by President Lincoln to * The 24 signers and the Union nr n stigma¬ make room for the Abolition orator Carl tised as *‘Helperites“ and “Abolitionists” are iSchurz, interested in slaves to the number oi 480. “Kiazoria In Oie Convention. Commenting upon that as any man jealous of the righls of the people would do has excited much ire and indignation. It is denounced as Tbe plan suggested for (ho approaching Con¬ *• rank Ilelperism/’ which I suppose is the most, vention, and which seems to meet with general damnable of all epithets that our enemies can consent, is nevertheless lor many reasons ob¬ use in these limes ol terrible words and furious jectionable. It is proposed that each county raids, ot vigilance committees and committees shall send twice as many delegates as she lias of public safety. 1 know- not myself, what i*-< representatives, according to the last apportion¬ | full tenor is. since sir, 1 never have seen or read ment. It will be seen that this plan works ; the work of Helper from which this word has very badly lor those counties having a large been coined, nor do I believe that any of those slave population, and which are really more in¬ j who united with me in issuing that address to terested in this Southern movement than any ; the paople of Texas know anything more about others. Take for example. Brazoria. This it. county has a lurger number of slaves in propor¬ To ail that appears in that address, sir. j did tion to the whites than any other county m the I and still do subsetibe, and to all such 1 hold state. It is by far the wealthiest county in the ! myself responsible, but 1 deny that any one State in proportion to her population, ai.d as* can draw from that the inter nee that I am an fixation and representation ought in some de¬ j abolitionist or untrue to the South or her insti- gree to go together, it would seem,but'just and | lotions, I am not sir. and God forbid that 1 ever right that she should be represented in a cun- l should he! In the soil of the South, on the bo¬ veutfon of this kind. But Although Brazoria som of the beautiful Savannahs of the Attaka* county has a population of nearly eight thou¬ ; pas, the bones of an old soldier of the - Imcrieati sand, white and colored, yet by the late appor¬ • revolution, and of several of his family rest, tionment, she is not allowed a representation. I He sir. was the first American settler in all In connection with Galveston she is to elect a j that tin n foreign land. His sous rallied around floater, who may, Galveston consenting, come | t he stars and stripes and followed the flag of the from this county. It is the same way with the ! Republic throughout the war of 1812—they delegates to the convention. Galveston will contended tor the liberties of the country—and probably be courteous enough to allow us ore when disease and death came upon thorn and delegate out of four lor the two counties. There reduced their numbers, in after tine s they mi¬ will be counties having two delegates in the grated to a colder clime—and cx-Gov. Henry convention, which have not half as many slaves (Johnson and li< n. John Moore, “ lronest John in the whole county as can be found on one I Moored’ the old faithful member of Congress and plantation in Brazoria. To show the unfairness j most prominent member of the secession con¬ id this plan still more clearly, let us take two vention of Louisiana, and others ot the earliest other counties, Com 1 and Wharton. Comal (settlers.of that country, can speak of them it county has 141 slaves, and is allowed two del- terms it becomes not me to rehearse. It is not t gates in the Convention : Wharton county my purpose to pass any eulogy upon the dead ‘2730 slaves and will have no delegate in the ot my kindred, it does not become me to do so, Convention ! Now which is more interested in but sir, when I am denounced as an "enemy to guarding and perpetuating the institution of the South ’’ r.nd an *• abolitionist,*’ 1 may at slavery, the planting county of Wharton, or the leatfTcrave indulgence for this retrospect. And Dutch county of Comal? The fact is the coast j .dr, having in my hands the records of their counties, and those having the largest slave j loyally and devotion to your cause and yom population, are allowed tbe least voice in the ; interests, I may be justified in referring to such matter. in mv defence from a most ba$e and malicious. We know that a majority of the people'of slander. » Comal aud many other counties in tne State, Those who have known me intimately, I am tilled up with foreigners, cannot feel so deeply confident will give me cr dit for sincerity, can¬ interested whether wc have a Black Republi¬ dor and independence. As 1 have before said, can President or not; whether or not shivery it I have ever had any sin to answer for it.has lie admitted into new territories; in short, been that of being a devoted friend of the Con¬ whether Texas be a free or a slave State, but stitution aud the Union of my fathers—a whig to swell counties as Brazoria, Wharton, Mata¬ —a Henry Clay whig. Alike in defeat and ad¬ gorda and Fort Bend ; these are matters of versity as in prosperity. I clung to the banner vital importance. of that party while it had an existence. 1 never But says one, t-we must submit to the voting bowed my knee to Baal—and I can prove by majority.’’ Well, if this be so. let us talk no my bitterest opponents in the State from more of Northern aggression. Lincoln has been whence 1 came, ih-at I ever fought the abolition elected by the Northern hordes of abolitionists beasts at Ephesus. My political course in —by a voting majority. Upon the same prin¬ Texas is known to you all—I have had no con¬ ciple we should submit to his election. cealments or disguises. We believe that every county in the State, J have been a zealous and ardent friend of should have at least one delegate in the Con¬ that Union under which we had so greatly pros¬ vention. Every State, no matter how email, is pered as a people, until unmindful of its great allowed one representative in Congress ; so in blessings like Jeshurum of old, you have ‘-wax¬ • ur Legislature, each county should bo repre¬ ed fat and kicked.” 1 never like the double- sented. faced Janus of the ancient heathens, bad one It may be that the present plan is the best set of principles and ono course of action to and that could have been suggested ; we hope the for the North and another to and for the South. rights^nd interests o-l all will be respected.” I did not join with you in your unholy cru- 8 mde against what I had been taught from my and present to the world the sad spectacle of earliest youth to regard as sacred. I could not the land of Washington being rent in twain by find it in my heart to do so. And while I might civil dissensions, and thrown into anarchy and like many others have, remained silent and confusion worse than that of Agramontes camp, have permitted the election upon secession to when in one place they fought lor a sword, in have gone by default, l could not do violence j another for a horse, in a third lor an eagle, in to my nature and my well defined views of j a fourth a helmet, in short all by the ears for right by so doing, but preferred to speak and j they know not what. Madness rules the hour write and do all in my power in opposition to i and bigotry, and intolerance have done this the movement. For this action I have been j work— with many far better ^men. denounced in un- i ‘‘Shake not thy gory locks at me, measured'terms, and epithets have been buried j Thou eau’st not say 1 did it!?’ at us with such rancor Hand deadly hate that I j True to the teachings of my youth, I have have almost wonder, d it some of those thus be- I endeavored to stand by the old land marks ot rating us had not lost their reason and were not the Constitution, and have labored to pre¬ entirely destitute of souls. I have also been I vent the destruction of the Union. The slot in lead at times to believe when the natives ol cloud haslas threatenedthreatened—the shock of battle has Texas and of the South—the adopted citizens, COme—animated with the spirit ot the patriot the old soldiers of San Jacinto—the old settlers Lawrence, when he exclaimed, “Never give up of Austin colony—the pioneers of civilization the ship,” I have stood at my posL-aud it may and liberty in this Western land, whose hearts with truthfulness be said— like mine ‘ kept time to the music of the Con¬ “Faithful among flie faithless, stitution and the Union,” have been in like Unmoved, unshaken, unsedue d. unterrified, manner unsparingly denounced that the epithets His loyalty he kept, his zeal, his love, in these degenerate days had become terms of Nor numbers nor example with him wrought honor and lost all their opprobrium ! To swerve from truth, or change the steadfast Mr. Speaker, 1 did not rise to argue, to ani¬ purpose of bis mind ”— madvert, to-criminate, or to recriminate, but And now. sir, that the golden bowl lias been sir. simply to do justice to you by having it broken—the Union dissolved, and I am having known, that you have not in associating with hurled at me the charge of abolitionism, after I me in this Hall, been less jealous ef your honor have been 'driven by the intolerance of the lhan were the members ot the Gih Legislature North to this sunny clime, after having been by whom measures were taken to get rid of a mobbed and pelted by abolitionists North, for member at whose door not half such obnoxious maintaining firmly and steadfastly the princi¬ charges were laid as at mine—I-allude to Hon. ples in which I was reared—and after having Lorenzo Sherwood, Demcrat, of Galveston. been denounced by extremists h«re, I may ejac¬ The fact, sir, that up to this time the last day ulate in the words of my honorable friend from but one of the session, no allusion has bpon made Gonzales, (Mr. Stewart.) “I should desire to to the subject by any member upon this floor, is hide myself in some secluded cave, in the lone" I take it, pretty fair evidence that you have not ]y mountainside, where 1 could not witness my yourselves had any confidence in the report of j country’s desolation, or get rumor ot her dis¬ abolitionism circulated by the malicious among j tracted state of commotion, civil wars, ruin, the secession press of the State against me. and destruction, and final desolation,” it. is to enable you to say with truth that I oiu i Mr. Speaker, I crave pardon of the IIouso •“sound as a dollar” upon this vexed question | for having thus trespassed upon its attention— that I have taken is occasion to refer to my ] but sir, 1 nave telt it due as well to the honor- record. | able members of this body, with whom I have Upon the question of love of country Fo man ; been pleasantly and kindly associated as to my- shall surpass me, as I have allowed none to ex¬ ge]f—due also*to my constituency, who have cel me in the past in devotion to the Union. time and again honored me with their support, Identified with this country, its interests are and I am satisfied would not now withhold from mine—and with its policy as marked out by a me their approval and confidence, for which I legal majority. I will expect to be controlled shall ever feel grateful—due to the people of as must bo every other good citizen. 1 have Texas, with many of whom although differing never sought to be with a majority—I .cannot from me politically, I have been agreeably as¬ change my nature I never will give up my sociated—due to ,111 y family, some of whom are own convinctions of right for popular favor. I natives of the country—all of whom will in all have been generally in the minority and such i human probability.mingle their dust with that may be my lot upon political questions j of mine in the soil of Tejsas 1 that may arise in futureuture. But no man will \ In their defence, and in umy own vindication, more fervently pray for the general prosperity I have made these remarks, and sir, I denounce ci the people and the welfare of the State with the charge made against mo as false, slanderous, which he is identified than the one who now malicious, dastardly—and whoever may hereaf¬ addresses you. ter give circulation or utterance to it is a wil¬ The glorious Union has been dissolved, and ful and deliberate liar and cowardly cal-1 civil war with all its dread results will come umniator. upon this land—and we shall see its proud and The poisoned arrows of vile and abandoned haughty freemen transformed from brothers slanderers will fall harmless at my feet—and with into demons, instead of rejoicing over the gen* “mens consciti sibi recti,” I bid defiance to the eral prosperity and happiness, with fiendish de¬ beagles, and blood hounds who have attempted light tear dowu and destroy the great with a ferocity hitherto unparalled in political ©date bequeathed us by a glorious ancestry. warfare to hunt mo down. »

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