State Gazette Appendix. (Austin, Tex.), No. 10, Ed. 1, Tuesday, November 20, 1855 Page: 2 of 4
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1S55.
LEGISLATIVE EK0GEEDI3TGS.
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ject alluded to by my friend from "Washington
(Mr. Tarver) it is the whole sabject matter of
slavery.
AVo are told until moat persons believe it that
a thing may be morally evil and yet practically
right or theoretically right and practically wrong
in ethics. Mr. Chairman the t hole idea is an ab-
surdity it is one of those half-way paradoxes
which by repetition comes Xo be received as .1
particularly cage truth while it is really little
better than nonsense. The Creator himself rev-
erently speaking cannot make tiic same thing
both right and wrong. If a thing is practically
right it is morally right.
Slavery cannot be a moral evil nnutt practical
rjood. No Mr. Chairman it in right hi the ab-
stract aud right in the concrete. I understand
We all understand the meaning of the gentleman
from Galveston when he says so daintily that he
does not consider slavery as of " diciim" origin.
If the gentleman regards the Bible ?.s authority
to be cited hen. my friend from Madison Mr.
Kittrel has the Bible before him) he will find
that in no one instance is the institution of slavery
therein condemned; on the contrary. God speaking
through persons whom we consider divinely in-
spired has affirmed nay commanded slavery.
Moral right and wrong are ot. things which
change with the hour. That which is once right
in the eye of God is alwajs tight. The gentle-
man need not bo afraid of the word divine. I
Jcave this part of the argument.
There is another part of the gentleman's speech
which suggests naturally another part of the ar-
cumeut respecting the institution of slavery.
The gentleman has s-aid or read something which
somebody said in South Carolina about the blight-
ing influence of slavery. I cannot quote the ex-
jicc words of the gentleman but we all under-
stood aud I tru3t every man on this floor rejec-
ted with indignation the covert insinuation pur-
posely half coucealellj'that ho did not consider
slavery a great moral ami political good."
I should indeed be glad to go fully into this
parfciiCJie argumentjtyfja faithful appeal to tho
history $fVother countries; but tho topic is too
tixtenB'rreaml I will iiot risk wearying the pa-
tience of tho committee. I limit myself to a
few words an' this branch of tho subject.
I liave traveled over much of the civilized
World I have visited several of those countries
once the seats of mighty empires whoso dense
populations aud high civilization wrought glory
t home aud power abroad but now feeble de-
based sparsely peopled and nearly powerless.
Look at Spain ! In the day of her splendor and
pride and might it was truly said that tho sun
never went down upon the possessions of the
Spanish Empire. Then slavery existed through
out that land; compulsory labor under the
form of feudal servitude was the social
and political law. Read the history of Spain
you will find that the moment a blow was struck
at compulsory labor and the first laws passed
tending to its abrogation that moment the decline
of this great Empire commenced and now Spain
is almost a by-word among nations.
Look at Italy when the Roman Empire ex-
tended from sun to sun and from the uttermost
North to the extreme South aud the simple phrase
"Lam a Roman citizen" was a passport and a
sure protection throughout the known world
then among the millions that twarnied in tho Im-
perial city there were only about two thousand
free families. How much more glorious prosper-
ous and happy too was her slavery then than her
slavery of to-day it is now tho slavery of igno-
rancesuperstition feebleness and shame.
There is Turkey now but go back and will up
Greece her battlefields her victories over the
Great King and far above them the immortal
words and works which she has bequeathed as a
possession forever to the whole civilized world.
When Pericles that great statesman and Captain
numbered tho inhabitants of Athens why there
were 30000 free men 380000 slaves. (Called to
order by Col. Dancy.) I appeal to the committee. I
am not then out of order. But I need not pursue
this topic further though the holy land Egypt
the northern coast of Africa would illustrate and
confirm our argument. All these countries once
tvemed with dense populations were bright with
a. high civiliest'ion glistened afar with glory and
power. Then was slavery and compulsory labor
the law of the land now they ore nominally free.
Look at them ! I commend their histos ies to the
contemplation of the gentleman who interrupted
me. And 1 beg lie will add to tne subject 01 u
meditation Texas before and after the citizens
of the old States brought their bondmen and
bondwomen into this now glorious land.
Before concluding 1 will pay a passing word of I
respect to the dilferent sets of resolutions before
the committee which have originated this debate. 11
I could give to almost any one of them my cordi- L
al approbation. My preference is fur those of the li
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Tarver.) I
am ready to vote for those of tho gentleman from
Galveston (Mr. Brown) or almost any other res-
olution which set forth the doctrines of the Com-
promise and Kansas and Nebraska bills.
I think it important at this time to present an
undivided front an unanimous vote. In some of
tho resolutions the names of distinguished men
are connected with the principles. In my opin-
ion we should keep the principles separate liom
men. But if a vote is forced on the House I
shall vote according to the principle embodie I 11
the resolution aud not men.
The vote of Gen. Rusk I have no hesitation in
mentioning names since it has beeu done in the
resolutions before us tho vote of Gen. Rusk on
the Kansas and Nebraska bill has my full appro-
bation. The unanimous vote we gave yesferday
electing him to tho Senate is an approval by the
Legislature of his political career in tho United
States i3 any more emphatic endorsement
than the vote of yesterday asked fort
The vote of Gen. Houston on the Kansas and
Nebraska bill was not in my opinion a wise one.
I heard of it more in sorrow than in anger and
in any language respectful to ourselves I shall
not hesitate to express ray disapproval of that
vote if the question is pressed upon tho House.
I havo no concealments ; I am ready to face any
musio vihiGU-fjonUomeu ma? choose to play on
this floor drt elsewhere. I am informed that the
resolutions hejSreJis are not the only ones which
will be prcsentexlf we are threatened with reso-
lutions of censure1 from auother quarter about the
River and Harbor bill and tho Collins Steamer
bill. In regard to this whole matter of approval
and censure inclnding the present resolutions
our masters our constituents may instruct us
licrciftcr that we were not sent here to review
congressional legislation generally. .'
But if gentlemen are determined to censure li
Gen. Houston I beg to call their attention to the I
unanswerable argument of the gentleman from j
Panola (Mr. Poag) pass your resolutions and J
you relieve your Senator from all embarassment y
on the Kansas and Nebraska act; you relieve him
completely from any aw kwardiiess ot position in
the eyes of his Northern friends if he shall hcre-
after'vote against the repeal of the Kansas and
Nebraska act. Ho need not say a word jour re-
solutions are his speech he need not explain his
vote a very favorite proceeding on tlii- floor.
And gentlemen have forgotten the rare sagacity
and adroitness of Gen. Houston if they imagine
he will not turn any mistake ol ours to his own
great advantage.
He is coming up we are informed to attend the
Know Nothing celebration of next week lie
comes up as any other private citizen may do ;
but pass your censure and he comes up on your
arraignment; he will interpret it so aud tho
people will understand it so ; lie comes up by your
order to answer your arraignment.
Gen. Houston is a member the leader of the
Know Nothing party. I utterly repudiate and
condemn the doctrines. I have no lot nor sym-
pathy with them ; but Gen. Houston i3 also part
and parcel of the history of the old Republic and
the present great State of Texas. Flings have
been made on this floor at his personal courage
and the charge of treason reiterated to satiety.
He bears three wounds in front received in fight-
ing the battles of his country. Let those jest at
scars who never felt a wound; the charge of
cowardice comes with an ill grace from those who
never faced an enemy. And .as for treason it in
the highest felony known to law the charge 5
an outrage. I wont insult the intelligence of thi
House by an answer.
But gentlemen press the vote on your resolu-
tions. I am ready. I disapprove Gen. Houston's
vote on the Kansas and NebasRa act. I am wil-
ling nay desirous to make a record of my opinion
on tint subject.
But my opinion is that we should if practica-
ble present an undivided front that the Legisla-
ture of tb'n great State soon to be the Empire
State of the South I trust also of the Union
should form a solid column on the great Southern
principle avowed iu the Kansas and Nebraska act.
Let us so frame our resolutions by dNseuibarras-s-ing
the question of men that all can vote with us.
Let us separate men from the principle.
We are in a crisis of political doctrines perhaps
of the fate of the Union.
Let us assert the great principles of the consti-
tution let is vote not for men but.principle. And.
wl.cn the votes shall be taken I uLall if tho op-
portunity fiff- w give my preference for thoo re-
solutions which without reference to men bold-
ly and simply assert the principles.
SENATE.
MOXDAY.3sTOV. 19.
Mr. GflSK of Cherokee said : Mr.I'resident
I arise this morning to perform the painful duty
of announcing to the Senate the death of Joseph
C-ILuhhsos late Representative from the coun-
ties of Cherokee and Angelina. He departed this
life in this city last night at 30 minutes past 11
o'clock. I am not prepared at this time to pro-
nounce a lengthy eulogy upon the character ot tho
distinguished individual whose untimely death wo
are now called upon to mourn but simply to of-
fer a feeble tribute of respect to an exemplary
and honorable man. With his private life his his-
tory and nativity I am not sutliciently familiar to
speak advisedly. I believe however he was a
native of Alabama whence he emigrated to this
State as early a3 the year 1340 and participated
in the'afiliiotis and trying struggles and hardship?
in common with the pioneers of ourcountry.in tho
defence of tho rights of civil liberty and freedom
of which we are the happy recipients.
Although I have not had the honor of an inti-
mate personal acquaintance not residing in hi.
neighborhood ; yet I have known him for years
aud it affords me pleasure to state that there h
no man in the county of Cherokee who enjoys
more universally the unwavering confidence of tho
public the approbation of his acquaintance and
tiie high e-doein of his intimate friends than Jo-
seph C. IIari:io:;.
His private character was affluent in all those
noble qualities which contribute to the formation
of the perfect character of an honest man a true
patriot and a praiseworthy citizen. In his death
society has lost an excellent member the public;
a faithful and efficient representative and his wife
an affectionate and devoted husband.
Mr. President it has been well known to a ma-
jority of the members of this S-nate that his timo
on earth wa evidently of short duration that ere
long he would be called from the busy scenes of
earth and its enjoyments to that bourne trom
whence no irnveler'returns ;" but little were we
prepared to receive the unwelcome news of his
sudden death at so early a day of our legislative
labors. But he has bowed meekly to the man-
date of death; his spirit I verily believe now re-
poses in the mansions of rest prepared for tho
just and may I not indulge in the hope that hw
praiseworthy example may long continue to illu-
mine the pathway of future Legislators of tho
State.
Mr. President I offer the following resolutions:
Whereas Joseph C. Harrison late a member
of the House of Representatives departed thw
life in the city of Austin on last evening at 3U
minutes after 11 o'clock therefore
llesoltcd That a committee of five Senators bo
appointed to mako the necessary arrangement
for his funeral and to superintend his interment
in the city burying ground at 3 o'clock P. M
EvPiPS
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Oldham, W. S. & Marshall, John. State Gazette Appendix. (Austin, Tex.), No. 10, Ed. 1, Tuesday, November 20, 1855, newspaper, November 20, 1855; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth81215/m1/2/: accessed May 14, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.