The Crisis

A'jstin, TfiXfl; Nov. 23 18C0. Ge.nití.f.mkn - Your letter aekmc; rny views P-pecting; iLj present ri-is in o'.iv pulilical alfaiis is at hiind. At pivsunt I c:tn reply but bricíly ; Imtl hall 1 so thn nmre frankly, foelimï thut this r a lime wlieu thci trutFÍ fhouiil he pla;ily si ukuii by tvery lo'vof of hi.s co,!it y. I lecoftnie nmontr yon ñames of men i.f :ill partiert Sianu of yon ne o!d uid triwl iiiendti und ciüzens ot Texas. Tu sucti especiuHy I lonk with coníitíonce ntw, whefl tho country s Hgila!■_'!! anci rBVohuivn tfireutened. lo :ill ihö troublea of ho republio I havo foutid yoli tlia frieríds of CoDStftotloDiil li' e"ty. r;avi'ir se-" 'he throes of iiiü íi, and b.fie a part íjj briijiog Ttixajs iito ihe Union. I trust t.hat yon, n coiniünn with the patriota df lene tiint-íí, will ask nomo inore weigbty i'onson íor ovurttirow!i!;r tho gfwefnmant th:ü) r;i-h endiiisiasts yet havu given ; and tiiiit wliile other.síire oarriiui uwuy by the impul.sa of the moment, tho nr.eii üí espernanca will be calmnnd decidod. I dad boptid thai an (ipportunity would have een aflorded me 'jarrejoloo in the triumplrof sume one of the conservutive candi dales for the Presidency. Had the capdidate for vyho;n the vniue of Texas was deilití'ed been eleoted, I hoiiiÖ have had an uuditional cause of {rratifioation ; but suuh is not the case. On the'oontrary, I must regret and deploro the election fff men, whnse only clain to the conüdence and support of ihe wholo c -untry raust ba the official diarauter vviili wfaio thu cousitution iiivesig thern. In run.jinbering tho tnany evidences '.vhich a portion of' tin; northarn paiple luve presenied oí tl.eir wffiingliöflP to ctarégand tbcrif coixt tuiional oblisratinii umi infringe up m the riahi.s of 'heil' southern bre bron, 1 wn not i;i i he least suiprsed at thu indignatit res)(riL's now Èrtterèil by outhtirii men. It Ihvvs that if the time should como lien va uan p.o !inger trust to tha ;oii!Ítii!Íon l'or our righia, the peoplo wil] not Iteaitnte to inunituii) thein. It will be wt-1! f ihose Btüte.s wjiich h:ivo vleldtíd to a fanaticalsentiiDeut.Kofar as 0 jiterpose btweón the Federul siuhority and the cousUiutioiial rifhte of 1 wh lüec;ioi) of thü Union, will uow, nspired by a spirit ui' jwtriotism and nutionalily, rutracd their steps. Upoii i citizunof tfeeir ówn eótiqttj and vno of their ovvii piiity, they have iidw ia resionïil)ility whiuh ho cannot avoid. As U;ü Clnet líxe ulive of the uulion be will l;e swurn to support the oonstitllljon and cx-u!e the hiws. His 1 ! i vJi briBgjhirii inconflict vith the iiucon.-titutiorutl statiïtéa enacted by his pa' tv i') muny of the Stales. Electeti by that pai-ty, it is but natural that the conservada,1!) vi the naüon will watyh his conrso " wHh jculous caro, and dennnd ut his hands a rigid enloroement of the Federal jaws. bhould he meet ihe same resístanle vvhieh Qthr Exeo ulives have met, it wjll be his duty to cali to his aid the ui(iiservative massej of the country, ai;d tliey wil] respond to ihe cali. Shöuld he íalter or lull, and. bv ullowing the law to be subverted, aid in oppressing tüe peopi oí' thu South, hu raust be hurled frorn power. tYoin the moment "i hut inauguración there will eoinmsnce un "rrej.iresble contíict," ditíerent írom thut vvhicl the party of Mr Lincoln is basad upon - it vviil be in "rreprosible conflict' beureen the cons'.UUtiolt wliich he has sworn to support, and the unoonstitu tionul enautiuerits and iiims of ihe party w liioh has placed him in power He has declared the fugitivo slave lav cjUntitiitiupitl, ín i's enloreement the coi.üict is vy.th tliu Noi-th alon.e. 1 need not as jura yuu th.a whenever the timo shall como when ive mu-t choosö butweeu tho loss ot' Otirêonstitü tional riglits and revfjlution, I íhall choose tho latter ; and i f I, who huve led the people oí' Texas n s or;nr timos ot danger, hesitate to punge imo revolution i.inv, it is not becaiisö I mt) reudy 10 stibinit to black republican rulo, but beoauíe I regard the uuiiatittttiui) ol my countrv, aod am detennined to stand by it. Mr. Lincoln has been constitutionally elected, and, niuuí) aa i depreua'ta hi.s succesa.no alternativo is lei't me but to yield to .ha consütuüon. Tho moment that icstrumeoi is violated by him I will be íWüino.st it) denianding redi-ess, and ilie last to abandon niy ground. When I contémplate tho horrors of civil war, such as the disolution üf the Union will ultinuitely lorce upon us, I ciinnot believe thtit tho ptoplo will rashlv take a step fraught with these consequonces. Thoy will cónoider well the blessinga of the guvernment we have, and it will oiily be when the grievances wu suffer are oí a nature that as Ireöinen we can no longer buar ttfain, that they will raisj tne standiiid oí revulution. Then the civilized world, our own concie:.ctjs and posterity will justi fy us. If that time should oomu, then wili be the day ami the liour. if' it has not - if diir rights ire yet securu - vve caunot be justüiud. Hus the time come ' Ií it has, the people who have to boar tlio burthons - 1' revolution, must tbeinat-lves ellect thu woik. Those who reside in citiesand town Wllbre aStíá are carried in enuvd.s anü jiiÜüuncd by passionate uppeals niay bu ready íor hasty action but thiorking-men and fannefs. wliose iHía idcniified with tho prosperity and peucc of' the country, will ask timo to ruduct As ali will be alike involved in ítt horrors whioh will coma aí'ter d:S?olu tion, all havo tl'o riglit to cuiíüidci wn ether distfolirtioó hIkiII coaio. Tho libertie and security ofall are at stake 11 is uot A Que&tion for poliiicians u tiimpur Vi'ilh - me masses must setlle it for ihemselves. They aro to cousidei whether, with Congress anJ the 6uprame Court largely 111 favor ftlio conrslitutioi!, thoy will be justiíiud, becaio the President, lio is constituiiuually elüuted, is iuiraiüál to thern. It musí come to this. With a:l these ebecks ancj guarariteea in our favor, it is urged that we shimld no longi.T wait, but at onci) let go tho consütuU'jn. Passioö is rush ; - .visdoiii coiisidurs well her wuys. - When tho boue and sinew oí tho cnuntxy, HÍ'tur oarí'ully ponsideruig tliu issiio in all its beari.igs, shall teel. that a 'yoke oí' oppreti.siou is upou them. they WBÍ] rjjju to shake it oÜ. Then, when I tbeír now peaceful homes aro the ececs of des l.ition, 'hcy wil] ftjcl no paite of j rtitnjt. Moved by u cmttnofi fediing f( rc;si.8t:in8, thuy will notask fT the firuiB 1 hiw 'u jcwtiiy tfceir auiion. Wow will tiiey fi'llow the no) -y JemagoSftie fkho will Ik-u :-.t Hu finst Qtinwnf , dauger. Man t the peoplu will oom e lor h to li ad lliem, who ll b r in'y . ;o!Íl;lhe eonseíjusnc of r-3olutki. I Ii' ihe Union bu ditorlvoü uow, 11 wti luivo idilitiunal si.-curity for s!av,i? Will wu h:iv our better scuiiie'i? Alter eiidiifrng civil war inrcurii will , tharö Ue ttny pnimise df n bettur st:;le of ttlinap Ulan wu now eiij'iy ? Tw'xiw espacia Uy has throa íhing.s tp conider. Üur treasury. U nearly empty ; we ti,ave nearly half i million of dollars in the trêasttry of the United States; a million of our school fund is investnd in Üig United Stüles boiids ; w have an exten'-;ve frontier ; dffencf. Puuntary or personal uansidüi'attonsi oüght to weigli noikinuf wlien U"i'ari;iy is in the scai ; but aru we juoliflad in sacriSuing the.sa when we have vet the con-tlitutiion to protect us and our Kghts uro secure ? Let us no; emtiraca tho higher hiw principio of pur ei)cni:es, mul o.erthrow tha c .tistiluti -n, bnt when wo have to resiat, let it be in tliu dmiiís of the ooustltutiofi atJ to uph )d t. Why this military display and ci.ll to orms in Tesas? iíavu we qnemicd at home, or i.s an anny inarching upon us? When was there the timu whe;j thj citÍ2L'ii8 of the country ware not ready to fl;)ck to its standard in U defence ? Are tliö pe.'ple to deliberatu on thln qnesli h wit!) a in litary despoti-m in their mid.st, ready :o coorca the: ? We want sober tboujjht and culin roason, notfuri'. us harunguoá or the urgumunt of bayoneta. If this giivernin üH is to fuii, wisdom must lurninh auoiher and botter one; and f patiiats yield now to the ra-h and rook les,.-, who öttly aspire to mititti'}' 8' ryi ('r ol' i'iaruhy auri rapiñe, they uiay fiud th.at in ihc wrouk oí ouu freo govörnmpnt, they have lost tfaö power to rear anriHier. I trast the gloom thut now hangs ovur the unA will soon bu dispullud. Naw ia ttie time for thw patriot tuco .nu i'mh uad consider what iá to bc guiriod bv u change. We are culled upoti to desert the gullaijt thousund.-j who for vears huvu beofa tighting our ba.tles igHinst fanatioism m the Nortii. HerdU;iore they have uided us to c niq ier, arjrl we havu beeii willing to ab;de witji tbem. Nurt-, after a wtrugg e more !oriou.- thiin any tliay yet ha. e mude,tliHV have been driven back. They sul oöer lis the gnaranteea of thü uotiitution, i.mi are ruady to. battiu with u.s i:i Lti deii-nce. Let trutj men, u'l over l'exas and thu Soutli, see t.) it that we luave t h e i rj iKif without a cause. 1 caiinot believü that we can find r.t presan more öafy.y outof thu Uüio.i tlian in it. Yet Í beüuve it duo iho people tl. at they shouid kuow where thuy stand. Mr. Liucolu haa beu eleotod po:i H Hwotiowtfi Uaiw'. Ii u-d oxpects to inaintain that sotiona] i.ssue dunng bis adininis'i'atioi), it is well we ehould koow it If he iatendü to adtpiaUttti the governmuüt with equaÜty and fairness, ivu Ehould kiiow that. Lst us wait and st;e . 1 have lg!t upon record my position, shouid the rjghts of Taxas tia sucri ficed by thu Federal Government. In reply to Mr. Seward, io the Luíate, I use d thcso WOrdS ; and 1 ppaj my friends to oonsider ttieni oalinly, as tbey were tutered : ' Whtüicver one section of thiscountry presumes upon ita 'utrangth for th'n oppremion oi tne other, thün wül omConstituWon bt a inockery, and it vvould muiter Bot öuw souii it, aas svred iuto t thousand atmns and -uuttered to the Four triada, lt' the principies ure dis-" regarded upon vvhicli thu anüesation oi' Texïis was uotisuiama'etl, thofe wüi in.' for her nuiti.ur ho&or nor ..te.ro.st ia tho TJniun - if th . niiyh.y, in tho Loe ni wr tten luw, can placj with iinpuiiiiy uu ron yoko upon the nuck of tlio wo.ik. rxaa v:ll b at nu ïoa how to aot, or whero to go, bcloru tlio blow aimed at lier vitáis i.s intiicted. In a spuit oi goud fui l li shueutereii the FuderaJ loid. JJy thal spirit shu will continuo to b intiueneed udli] it is attcjmpteü ia mak har tho viuti.n of Fodural wroug "As slio will violut'j no Federal ritfhts, so will sha snbnit to no viulation of her riguts by FöderjJ auttiority. Tno contract eUe entorcd inio with iho govornintínt mu.st bo observad, or it wíl. bü annulled Loui.-sianu was a puichu.se; Caliíornia, Nuw Mexico, and Utah a conquast - b'Jt Tosas wus a voluotary annuxiition. 11' tliu condi tiun of her udmissiou is not (i' mplied with on tl:a ona part it is nor binding on the other. Il 1 know Texas she ft'íll not sLibii.it tü thu thruteOed degrada tioii foreshadowed in the speech oí tho Senatcr from New York. She ivould preter rt-8toration to thut ÍQsiepeDdnce which she oncu enjoyad to thu Ignomiuv onsuing í'rtmi seciiunul dictution. So''ruwing for th iiiirft.iko stio had coinmittad in saciiticiiig her indepeiiduiiou at the aliar oi' hr paliiotism, shti uotild nnturl Mgujn the banner of the 'Lone títa:' to thö breeze and ra enter upon i national uitroer, whoie, ií' no gk.ry iiwaited her, he would at least bu Iruu from a subjaution by miht to wrong and shanie." Hore I takü my &tand I So long as thu constiflújot) i.-i maintained by "Fed eral aulljority," and 'l'axas is nut made the vieiim oí ''Federul wrong," lam for the ünion as it is. I am now an aged man. My loc!;s liave become vvhiie ñi loiling, uó í bulieve, fon tha liberties oí mankiiid. - Were I young thnt I tnight look lorward to the í'uture, fuuüng tiíat whutgver dunger tuay come, my slrong arni would bu at hand to duí'ead my luiiii y, I ahould itíel less uii.;ety thau í du at present. The yuars that I vyí.l tuvo to endure tho misiortur.es of civil war are buttew. lí 1 could teel that with the close ot' my caroer wo;,ld end the rii8üiion ot my ;ajf I cou!d sharo the j fortunes with patience; b-itto feel ihatj thj penis of urovolutiou must coaünne - that war with its ttendant horrors of bloodshed, rapfrie and devastation must still be visited upon it, would em bitter my last rnoinents; nd, f.fl'T living to witness the domolition of the best governiiiunt that over exis woukl í-iub tu tho gruve without a hopa tbat fruedoia wouhl be rogeneralod, or our posterity eftjoy agáin tho blessings wit whiuh we had p:irted. Let na pauso und pHár well heíoru we take tmv actiou oiiisida o( tho c;;iiLti tutiou. Verv triilv Yours, SAM HOTTSTOX.