Sam Houston: Quotes about people

Sam Houston was nineteenth-century American statesman, politician, and soldier, namesake of Houston, Texas. Explore interesting quotes on people.

Sam Houston: 22 quotes1 like

“But if, through division in the ranks of those opposed to Mr. Lincoln, he should be elected, we have no excuse for dissolving the Union. The Union is worth more than Mr. Lincoln, and if the battle is to be fought for the Constitution, let us fight it in the Union and for the sake of the Union. With a majority of the people in favor of the Constitution, shall we desert the Government and leave it in the hands of the minority? A new obligation will be imposed upon us, to guard the Constitution and to see that no infraction of it is attempted or permitted. If Mr. Lincoln administers the Government in accordance with the Constitution, our rights must be respected. If he does not, the Constitution has provided a remedy.”

Sam Houston

1860s, Speech in Austin (1860)

“Let me tell you what is coming. After the sacrifice of countless millions of treasure and hundreds of thousands of lives, you may win Southern independence if God be not against you, but I doubt it. I tell you that, while I believe with you in the doctrine of states rights, the North is determined to preserve this Union. They are not a fiery, impulsive people as you are, for they live in colder climates. But when they begin to move in a given direction, they move with the steady momentum and perseverance of a mighty avalanche; and what I fear is, they will overwhelm the South.”

Sam Houston

As quoted in Sam Houston (2004), by James Haley, University of Oklahoma Press, p. 397
1860s

“Our people are going to war to perpetuate slavery, but the war will be its death knell.”

Sam Houston

As quoted in "Revering Sam Houston, anti-Confederate patriot" http://grandoldpartisan.typepad.com/blog/2016/03/sam-houston.html (18 March 2016), by Michael Zak, Grand Old Partisan <br class="br">1860s