Sam Houston: Speech Opposing the Kansas-Nebraska Act

Houston was involved in some of the most dramatic events in American history. Aside from his successful military career, he proved to be a passionate and dedicated politician. Unlike many of his southern counterparts, he was sympathetic to Native Americans and firmly believed that secession was a mistake. A charismatic orator and eloquent writer, Houston’s writings and speeches often stirred people to action. In his Speech Opposing the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Houston spoke out against the plan of Illinois senator Stephen Douglas to move the issue of slavery from the federal arena to the individual territories, thus easing tensions between the North and South. According to Houston, the plan would jeopardize the rights of Indians within the territory and, moreover, was in direct violation of the 1820 Missouri Compromise, which outlawed slavery north of latitude 36°30′. Calling the compromise a “wall of fire,” Houston believed that it remained a binding agreement between North and South that had kept peace for more than thirty years.