William Carey Crane

“ In the debate on the Oregon bill, all leading Northern and Southern Senators were agreed in admitting that the ordinance of Virginia, ceding in 1787, to the United States, her territory north of the Ohio River, had a bearing on territory farther West. Petitions for abolition, the Abolition Convention at Buffalo, could not affect this question. He wished to make his position known, not only on this continent, but that his views should be blazoned forth to the world. Texas, divided by the line of 36° 30 m., had come in, and on it she was willing to stay. ”

“ The settlers bore the wrong patiently till 1833, and they then demanded only a State Constitution, under the Federal Republic of Mexico. From October, 1835, to March, 1836, they were under a Provisional Government only, not asserting independence. The assault on the Alamo by 9,000 Mexicans, its fall, and the massacre of its entire garrison, roused the people to resistance, and they acted as did the American fathers in 1776. And, now, the present war, brought on by the annexation of Texas, was not a measure forced on the country by the President. ”

“ Houston interposed that the Senator from Kentucky had improperly committed himself to an unpatriotic concession. Mr. Crittenden responded: "The Senator from Texas does not bring back to the brotherhood, to which he has been readmitted, warmer American feeling than he found here around him." Various amendments were proposed; Houston adhering to strong statement. The final vote for giving the notice was passed, 40 to 14. In this debate Houston showed himself the peer of statesmen like Crittenden and Webster; the military spirit only adding decision to the cool judgment of the civilian. ”

“ There was a dispute as to the boundary of Texas when it was incorporated into the United States; and Houston read the documentary testimonies that the United States only demanded what had been conceded. He said the cause of the dispute was the fact, that constant revolutions in Mexico brought in leaders who renounced the binding authority of treaty stipulations. He stated: "There have been no less than three revolutions in twelve months." Here Mr. Benton in his seat added: " There have been seventeen revolutions in twenty-five years." ”

“ In modern, as in ancient diplomacy, all civilized nations were agreed that, first, when any nation, through its citizens, has discovered unoccupied territory, the prior claim to future occupation belongs to that nation; that, second, this claim of prior discovery is superseded if, before the territory be occupied, another nation has taken military possession by planting their flag, and leaving a permanent military force in charge ”

“ He denied that the annexation of Texas was aggression on Mexico, as the English press intimated. The English press paid little respect to the English public; which is without power. The American public is quite another thing. Here the multitude is omnipotent. The settlers in Oregon have a strong claim to protection. He gave a history of the proceedings of the United States as to Texas, and said: "While she was poor her call was disregarded, but when she had power she was courted. ”

“ The question of the future introduction of slavery was naturally mooted; since though slavery had been abolished by Mexico, as American territory it might become subject to the application of the Missouri Compromise, which admitted slavery south of 36° 30′ N. lat.
Several minor topics, debated by Houston, led on to his second great speech on the Oregon question. On the 24th January, a resolution was offered in the Senate asking of the President of the United States whether the President of Mexico was authorized to cede territory. ”

“ As to war, it is a state of things to which every nation is subjected that has advanced as rapidly as we to the highest rank. It is our duty to follow the maxim of the Father of his Country: In time of peace prepare for war. ”

“ Macon, is necessary once in every generation, or thirty years. It has some advantages; among which were the draining off of the restless and dissatisfied, who might be killed off to the benefit of the remainder of society. ”

“ Houston in the United States Senate under President Polk, March, 1846, to March 4, 1849. The records of the Twenty-ninth Congress, whose first session was held from December 1, 1845, to August 10, 1846, have these entries: "Texas: Senators, Samuel Houston, took his seat March 30, 1846 ”