SAxr   ovsrsowN was born on the 2d day of larch,    Yodtg Houton  devoted all the time he could"
in the year 1793, some, eight miles northeast of;.pare to the studies of a rude frontier school, during
Lexington," in Rockbridge.county, Virginia. ~        w'hich he,committed the whole of Pope's version. of
His ancestors, on both sides, were of that North  the Iliad to mnemory.  By.the advice of his elder
Scottish race that fled from' oppression' to North  brothers, he was induced to enter a'c9untry trader's.
Ireland, whence, after the siege of Derry, they emi- store, but standing' behind a counter was not a life
grated..to the State of' Pennsylvahia.'They andl t please a mind of his caste, and he suddenly distheir descendants adhered to each other in. their appeared.  After' a lapse of several weeks, news
wanderings, till they reached the State of Virginia,  came to the family that he had fled ito the Indians
where the' father and mother of Houston were united  beyond the Tennessee river, among whom he was
in marriage.  His father did'his duty to the colo-  liing greatly to -his own satisfaction and comfort.
nies in the Revolution.  A man of iron frame, com-  His reason for taking this step was, that the wild
manding bearing, and fearless courage, he died in  liberty of the red man suited. his nature far better
1807, bequea[.hing these qualities to. his son,-the  than the restrain.ts. of the white -settlements.  He
only legacy he had to bestow.  His mother had a  was now nearly six feet in.height, and as straight as
majestic mien and a countenance of great dignity, the straightest of the men of the forest.  His mother
possessed a highly cultivated intellect, and was the  and brothers believing that the romanceof this mode
friend of the poor.  Her son was at her bed-side  of life would soon wear off, gave themselves no unwhen she died, and wept tears of sorrow at the loss easiness about him, but he returned not to his home
of one to whose training he owed the broad founda — for several months, and when he did return,, it was.
tion of his mlanly character.                        only to renew his wardrobe and betake himself again
Like all sons of laboring parents, young Houston  to his new abode.  Nearly five years of experience
was compelled to devote far more of his time to  in this mode of living initiated him  into all the sefarm-work than to school, yet he always kept up  crets of Indian life, and gave him  a knowledge of
with his companions in the slow racw of elementary  savage character, that made him a complete master
learning.  When he was thirteen years old his  over the Indian mind, as his intercourse with the
father died, and this event wholly' changed the for- red man, in after years, fully proved.
tunes of the family.  His mother found herself bur-    Finding himself in debt, at the age of eighteen,
dened with the support of six sons and three daugh- for his own wearing apparel, and for purchases of
ters, with an uninviting future before her, but with  gifts for his savage friends, he opened a school for
her usual dotermination of spirit, she disposed of the children of the whites on the frontier, at eight
the farm anti other property which her husband had  dollars a year, and soon got together enough money
left, and removed to the West.  After encountering  to discharge his obligations.  He then renewed his
severe hardships in her long journey, she safely  own studies, under his old tutor, and undertook to
reached the bounds of civilization in the southwest,  dive into the secrets of geometry, but Euclid had
which were marked, in those days, by the Tennessee  little charms for a mind like his, and he threw it by
river. In advance of that stream were the-Cherokee  to seek some more congenial pursuit.
Indians, near whose territory Houston's mother set-   It was now the year 1813, and while debating as
tied, and her bos,  once set themselves to work to  to his future course or life, a recruiting party of the
open a farm.                                        United States army appeared in Maryville, the chief




village of the settlement.  He was just at that age  gaged hand to hand with their adversaries. Major
when war and its deceptive colorings are sure to  Montgomery was the first man to mount the works,
captivate the youthful ambition, and he enlisted with- but "he instantly fell back, pierced by a ball in the
out a moment's reflection. His mother gdve him  head.
his musket, and bade him  never disgrace it, telling    At this moment, Ensign Houston, leading the
him that the door of her cabin was always open to  extreme right of the 39th regiment, scaled the
the brave, but never to the coward.  Shortly after breastworks, followed by his brave companions, and
he entered the service he was made a sergeant, be- leaping down among the pent-up band of savage
cause of his skill as a drill-master, whence he was warriors, with drawn sword, cut his way through
promoted to be an ensign.  He was prominent in  them.  In the midst of this gallant feat, a barbed
organizing and drilling the eastern battalion of the  arrow pierced his thigh, but he heeded it not, till
39th regiment of infantry, which was soon to par- the enemy began to recoil under his onset, when,
ticipate with him in the famous battle of the Horse  having essayed in vain to extract the arrow, he
Shoe.                                             called upon one of his comrades to do it, but the
Gen, Jackson's army, now  amounting to some  mnan failing twice, Houston, with his drawn sword
2,000 men, was encamped at Fort Strother, and his lifted on high, commanded  him  to  try again,
spies occupied the forests far and near. The Creek  threatening to cleave him to the earth if he failed
Indians, against whom  he was operating, had as  a third time. This time the arrow followed the
sembled' a thousand of their warriors on a bend in  man's hand, and with it brought away a mass of
the Tallapoosa river, called, from its shape, the  flesh and a copious stream of blood, when our hero
Horse Shoe, where they had resolved to risk all recrossed the barriers to have his wound dressed.
upon a single battle.  It is a peninsula of some hun-  While under the hands of the surgeon, Gen. Jackdred acres of land, opening towards the north, son recognised his young ensign, and commanded
and a breastwork of three tiers of heavy pine trees, him not to return to the battle, but Houston, heedwith two rows of well-arranged port holes, extended  less of restraint, rushed again into the fight, deteracross the isthmus, from river bank to river bank. mined to win a warrior's  fame.  The action had
On the 27th of March, Gen. Jackson reached the  now become general.  The Indians had been told
Horse Shoe, and in a few hours completely invest  by their prophet, a brother of Tecumseh, that they
ed the peninsula.  Gen. Coffee. had, by his direc- should win the battle, and that a cloud in the sky
tions, previously crossed the river, at a ford two  would be the signal of their victory.  At the momiles below the bend, with a body of mounted ran- ment when Gen. Jackson had ordered the carnage
gers and nearly all the friendly Indians, and at 10  to cease, and had sent an interpreter to commnanid
o'clock in the morning had so disposed his lines as them to surrender, a cloud suddenly overspread the
to cut off all, escape over the river from the south,  sky, and the savages, believing it to be the signal of
east, and west sides of the bend.  In the interval, their success, fired on the interpreter, and the battle
Gen. Jackson advanced towards the north end of was renewed. No quarter was given or taken, and
the peninsula with the main army, and began to  the work of'slaughter was continued, till scarcely an
play upon the enemy's breastworIks with two small Indian was left as a living, monument of victory,
pieces of artillery.  A brisk cannonade was kept up  but the battle was not yet over. A large body of
from half past 10 in the morning to one o'clock in  the savages had retired to a part of the works, built
the afternoon, with but little effect, owing to the  over a ravine in'the form. of a house-roof, and from
light calibre of the artillery and the heavily-timbered  the narrow  port holes of this barrier a deadly fire
barriers of the enemy, but just at this juncture a  was kept up on the whites. The artillery could not
sharp firing of musketry and rifles was heard in the  be brought to bear upon this point, and its occusouthern part of the peninsula, whence a dense  pants having rejected a proposition to spare their
column of smoke came rolling up.  In the course of lives if they would surrender, Gen. Jackson deterthe morning the friendly Cherokees had discovered  mined to take the place by storm.  A body of men
a line of canoes concealed under the bushes on the  was called for by the General to make the charge,
peninsula bank of the river, and a band of them in-  but no response was given, no captain offered to
stantly swam  the stream  and brought the prizes  head  the forlorn hope, when Houston, ordering his
across.  The Chief of the Cherokees, followed by  hesitating platoon to follow him, seized a musket
his braves, and Captain Russell with his spies, im  from  one of his men, rushed down the steep bank
mediately crossed the river in the canoes, set fire to  t)wards the covered ravine, and stopping coolly to rally
a cluster of wigwams, and, under cover ofthe smoke, his. men. within five yards of the port-holes of the
rushed upon the rear of the enemy, assembled near enemy's works, bristling with rifles and arrows, he
their north works.  Gen. Jackson's troops, perceiv  received two rifle balls in his right shoulder, just as
ing what had taken place in the southern part of the  he was levelling his musket, and his arm fell shatpeninsula, were impatient to storm the breastworks, teoed at his.side.  Utterly disabled, though still on
but he resisted their wishes, until he had sent- an in-  his feet, he implored his: men to charge, but they
terpreter to the enemy, to askl the removal of their refused, and then retreating slowly beyond the range
women and children to a place'of safety. beyond the  of musket shot, he' fell to the earth.bathed in blood.
river. This being done, the order to storm was.re- T'he covered ravine was afterwards set on fire, and
ceived with enthusiasm, and the 39th regimentr in  the sun of the 27th of Match set upon the extincwhich our Houston served, under the command; of tion of the. tribe of Creek. Indians.
Col. Williams, and the East Tennessee brigade un-    Houston's- heroism  in this t1-fought engage,
dter Gen. Dougherty, were,, in a fewa moments, en- ment, excited the admiration. the whole army,




and he was taken from the field, as all thought, a  New York, where he sojourned some weeks and imdying and a dead man. One ball was extracted, but proved in his general health.
the other was left, because the surgeon thought he-   Having returned to Tennessee, he reported to the
could not live till the next morning, and did not Adjutant General of the southern division of the
wish to torture him.  It was a. dark night for the  army, at Nashville, where he was stationed and deyoung warrior, for comfortless as a camp is after a tailed on duty in the lidjutant's office on the 1st of
battle, it was more comfortless to him, because every  July, 1817.  In the following November, feeble as
body considered him as a dead man, and every body  he w-as in health, he was despatched as an agent to
turned his attention to those wounded persons who, execute a treaty, just ratified with the Cherokees
it was supposed, could live.  But Houston surviv-  for Gen. Jackson could find no one to discharge
ed-survived not only to enjoy the lasting regard  this duty, in whom he reposed so high a confidence
and warmest sympathies'of his commanding general, as in Houston.  Unfit as he was for public service,
because of his miiitary prowess displayed in' this ter  the lieutentant executed hismission with signal ability,
rible battle, but to found, establish, and lead to glory  and the same winter conducted a delegation of Ina commonwealth of freemen, in a land which he  dians to Washington.  On his arrival at the seat of
wrested from the foot of Mexican despotism.  The  Government, he found that efforts had been made,
next day, he was sent on a litter to Fort' Williams,  by the parties interested, to undermine him  with
60 miles distant, where he lingered for a long time, the administration, because he ha(d, indischarge of
between life and death, neglected and exposed, un   his official duties, hindered the smuggling of African
til he reached his mother's house, which was nearly  negroes from Florida, then a province of Spain, intwo months after the battle.  This long journey on  to the Western States. He triumphantly vindicated
a litter, while he was utterly helpless, suffering the  himself, in the eyes of the then President and his
most agonizing pains, sustained on the coarsest diet, administration, from  the charge of having violated
obli'ged to encamp out with no shelter, and most of the laws, and demonstrated to their satisfaction, that.
the way being through forests, was more calculated  he had done his duty as an officer of the army, in comto kill him than to restore him, and'when he reach-  pelling an observance of the laws which forbade
ed the door of his mother's cabin, always open, as. the introduction of African slaves into the country,
she told him, when he enfisted, to the brave, she fail-  and that too, while suffering no respite from  his
ed to recognise him, so reduced was he in flesh.   painful wounds.  It was Gen. Jackson's opinion, at
After a tedious convalescence, he-became strong  the time, that Houston had not only done his duty
enough to ride a horse, and at once started for the  in the premises, but ought to have received at the
City of Washington, by slow journeys, which he  hands of the Government the highest token of its
reached shortly after the burning by the British of appreciation of his sacrifices in the public service.
the Capitol and the other public buildings, and it But he regarded himself as slighted, resigned his
was one of the keenest regrets of his life that his commission in the army, returned with the Indian
right, arm  should be disabled at a moment when  Delegation to Tennessee, gave up his agency, and
the enemy bad committed such a flagrant act of bar-  went to Nashville to study law.
barism, but with his festering wound, he repaired to    Houston was now 25 years of age. In abandonLexington, in Virginia, where he tarried till the en- ing military life, he had to bear,with himl  a heavy
suing spring. - Being recovered sufficiently to do  load of debt, part of which was discharged by the
soldier's duty, he recrossed the mountains, and at sale of the last piece of real property he had, but the
Knoxville, met; the tidings of the battle of lNew Or- remainder was only satisfied after he had embarked
leans. After the peace, and when the army was re- in the practice of the law. In June, 181 8, he entered
duced, he was retained in the service as a lieuten-  the office of Mr. James Trimble, and after a few
ent in the 1st Regiment of Infantry, which was months' severe study, was admitted to the bar, and
stationed at Nevv Orleans.  In the fall of that year, immediately commenced the practice of his new prohe embarked in a skiff, on the Cumberland, for his  fession, with a small library, at Lebanon.  Shortly
post, in company with the late Edward D. White,  after this event, he was appointed Adjutant General:
afterwards g{overnor of Louisiana, and representative  of Tennessee, with the rank of (colonel, and rose so
from  that etate in Congress for many years.  He  rapidly at the bar, that in October of 1819 he was.
had with hirm, in his fiail bark, with which he thread- elected'district attorney of the Davidson district,
ed -the vast solitude of the father of waters, a choice which rendered it necessary for him to remove to
but small library, anid among its volumes were the  Nashville.  Brought into collision with the most
Bible, a gift frotn his mother, Pope's Iliad, his com   eminent legal talent of the State, his powers of genpanion among the Indians, Shakespeare, Akenside,  eralization and his sound judgment, in his new calland Pilgrim's Progress.  His skiff, turning a bend  ing, gave him an advantage over his seniors, that no,
in the Mississippi, just above Natchez, brought to  opposition could dislodge him from, but after a twelve
his astonished view the first steamboat that ever as- months' profitless discharge of the uriceasing duties
cended the great river, and parting with his canoe  of his new office, he abandoned it, to rise to the highfat Natchez, he made the rest of his journey on  est distinctions of the profession, in its regular practhe "fire ship" to New Orleans, where he reported  tice.
for duty. Here his wounds were once more re-   in 1821 he was elected Major General of Tennesopened, for the purpose of extracting a shattered  aee. In 1823 he offered himself as a candidate for
bonefromi  his shoulder, but this effort was a vain  Congress, and was elected without opposition.  In
~ one, aid the operation well-nigh proved fatal.  Af-  1825 he was returned a second time to Congress. alter a winter of great suffering, he repaired by sea to  most by acclamation, so well satisfied were his con



stituents with his course in the House of Represen-  tion, but the fraud and injustice of the white agents
tatives.  His popularity rose to' such a height that sent among them, and the introduction of ardent
in 1827 he was elected Governor of Tennessee by a  spirits by their very protectors, are the measure of
majority of more than 12.000 votes, and his acces- the desolation and gradual extinction of these men
sion to office found him without an opponent in the  of the forest.  While he resided among the CheroLegislature. In the midst of his gubernational term, kees, he was unceasing in his efforts to prevent the
January, 1829, he contracted a Mharriage which, in  bringing in of spirituous liquors amongst them, setless than three mlonths thereafter, ended in a separa-  ting himself the traders an example of abstinence
tion of the parties.  It is not known, however, to firom trafficking in these destructive drinrks  Theinthis day, what were the real causes of this unfortu-  tolerable and gross acts of outrage- upon the rights
nate result, for Houston's lips have never been  and feelings  of the Indians, by the agents of the
opened upon the subject to a single human being.  United States, rose to such a pitch that, in execuIt is enough to know  that he changed all his plans tion of his long cherished design, he repaired to
and purposes in life, for he instantly resigned his  Washilgton in the year 1832, and laid before the
office of Governor, gave up all the bright future be- President the clearest and most overwhelming evifore him, and exiled himself from all the habitations  dence of the conduct:of these Government agents,
of men.  He went to the wigwam of his adopted  and the result was, -the dismissal of a large number
father, the chief of the Cherokees, in Arkansas, and  of principals and accessories from the public service.
sat down in the corner of the lodge that had been  Previous to his leaving the tents of the Cherokees
assigned him by the savages some dozen years be  for Washington, the parties, wrho knew of his purfore.                                              pose of exposing them, heaped upon his head the
Tearing himself away from his sorrowing friends  basest libels, through the press, which they conat Nashville, the voluntary exile, after many days of' trolled, and when the President's prompt and just
travel and toil, reached in safety the mouth of the  removal of these men took place, the war upon hibn
Illinois, near the falls of the Arkansas, 400 miles to  was resumed with redoubled violence, both in and
the northwest of Little Rock, where the Cherokees out of (Congress, and by the opposition press, both
were settled.  It was night when Oolooteka, the rich  east and west of the mountains.
old Chief, full six feet in height, and unbent by age,    At that period the opposition to General Jackson
bringing with him all his family, hurried to the river had reached its zenith, and failing to touch even the
bank to meet his ad opted son Colonneh, (the Raven,)  hem  of the old Hero's garment, it turned upon
who, he had been previously informed, was on board  Houston, who was the cherished friend of the Prethe steamboat, then ascending the stream.  The re-  sident.  Through the purposed neglect of the conception was:all that the hospitality and simplicity of tractors for furnishing rations to the Greeks and the
the Indian character could give to such a scene-the  Cherikees. only a scanty supply of food had been
old Chief delicately alluding to the dark cloud that issued to them  at the most unhealthy point in the
had fallen across the path of the white warrior, but new country of these tribes, and several of them had
assuring him, with the zeal of a prophet, that the  actually (lied of starvation.  houston proved, beGreat Spirit had conducted the exile to the Chero- yond a doubt, that such a result was due to the inkees, who were in great trouble, to give them coun   human acts of these contractors, in the premises,
sel and to tell their sorrows to their great father, and they and their friends, in and out of Congress,
General Jackson.  Three years' life among these  attacked and pursued him with furious malignity.
sons of the forest afforded. hint ample opportunity  A member of the House of Representatives from the
to vindicate the  oppressed red men from  their  State of Ohio; who had been elected as a fiiend of
wrongs and sufferings, and he proved himself to be  the President, was put forward to assail Houston,
what they had always regarded him and still regard  and he accordingly charged him  with having enhim, their friend.  Houston has often declared that deavored to obtain a fraudulent contract for the suphe never was betrayed or deceived by one of the  ply of Indians, and boldly intimated that the Secrechildren of the forest, during his intercourse of years  tary of War, and even Gen..lackson, were implicawith them, atid this fidelity to him has been more  ted in the attempted fraud.  X\ hen Houston saw
than repaid, for there is not a single instance in his that the integrity and fame of the President had been
whole life in which he ever betrayed or deceived  questioned, because of hatred to him, (Houston,) his
them, and this is one of the secrets of his power patience of evil for a moment forsook him, and he
over them.                                         threatened, in the heat of passion, to punish the liDum;ng his residence among the Cherokees, he  beller.  Knowing of Houston's threat, he kept out
saw with his own eyes and heard with his own ears  of his way for some days, till, having learned that;the wrongs and sufferings inflicted upon and en- his opponent was unarmed, he approached him one
dured by these helpless Indians, and he resolved to  moonulight night, on the avenue, in a hostile attireport to President Jackson, who was still his tried  lude.  Houston recognising him, demanded if he
friend, the conduct of the Indian agents and sub- were not Stansbury, of Ohio, and no sooner was:agents, by which their victims were defrauded out the avowal of his identity uttered, than he was
-of nearly every dollar of the money which was paid  Jelled to the earth by Houston, who had nothing
by treaty to this tribe.  His opinion has always  with him  but a hickory can.e, which was shivered
been, that if one-third of the money which has been  over the libeller's head, after he had snapped a pistol
paid by the United States to the Indians, had been  at H.'s breast.' The chastised politician caused four
usefuliy and honestly applied, they would now  be  processes to he commenced against Houston, in the
in the enjoyment of most of the arts of civiliza- hope of crushing him forever.  He was first arrested




and tried by the House of Representatives, for vio- made through the wilderness for Fort Towson, and
lating the rights of one of its members.  The trial reporting himself to the authorities at Nacogdoches,
lasted thirty (lays, and ended in a vote of instruc-  San Felipe de Austin, and San Antonio de Bexar,
tions to the Speaker to reprimand him, which was he held an interview with a delegation of Camandone in so delicate a manner that history regards  cha Indians, then on a visit to the latter place.  On
the issue as a signal approval of what Houston had  his return, he waj solicited by the people of Nadone.  The conduct of Houston on that trial gained  cogdoches to established himself amongst them perover to his side many of his opponents, and his de-  manently, and to allow his name to be used in the
fence of himself and President Jackson on that occa  canvass for a convention, which was to meet, in the
sion is justly considered as one o,f the most power- following April, to consider the expediency of apful and convincin>. arguments that ever signalized  plying for the admission of Texas as a State into
the proceedings of a high court of judicature.  It I the Mlexican Union.  He consented, for he saw
was shown on the trial that he had not done any  that a great destiny awaited the people who should
thing more than to protect himself, while unarmed, inhabit that region, that this was a field wherein
against the attempt of a mhember of the Hlouse to  all the bold elements of his character could find full
take his life, and the country saw and felt that such  play, and that he might be enabled to so direct them.was the case, and what is more, that Houston -was in his new  sphere as to benefit his fellow  men.
persecuted because of his attachment to Gen. Jack- I Pending the canvass, lie went to Nachitoches in
son, whose fair fame he would not suffer to be at- Louisiania, and reported to President Jackson' the
tacked, hy even a member of Congress, with impu- result of his interview with the Camanche Indians.
nity.  Deeply seated as was the'affection of the  This visit of Houston to San Antonio de Bexar
American people for Houston previous to this occur- was dictated by President Jackson, to ascertain the
rence, it took still deeper root when they saw hinm  disposition of the Camanches to enter into treaties
standing by the old chief at the risk of life itself, in  with the United States, and, with that object in view,
the discharge of his solemn duties.  The next process  to endeavor to prevail on a delegation of that waragainst him was his arraignment before a Commit- like tribe of red men to visit Washington.  The
tee of the House, to investigate the charge of fraud,  movement was only a part of the policy of the then
brought against him  by Stansbury, at the head of President, looking to a final removal of all the Inwhich committee was the libeller himself, but this dians east of the Mississippi to their present huntprocess was consented to by the House at the in- ing grounds, and  it was wisely considered that
stance of the accused.  A tedious and thorough in  treaties with the Canmanches would promote the
vestigation resulted in a complete exculpation of the  voluntary emigration  of the tribes to their new
accused fron the base charge.  The next step his homes.  The mission of Houston was confidential,
foes took was to submit a resolution, excluding him  and nothing, of course, is known of the details,
from the privilege of the floor of the House, but in  but the results were most propitious, showing the
this they failed also.  The last act in the drama was;  wisdom  of the old hero in the selection of his
for the punished member to appear before the Grand  agent.
Jury of the District of Columbia, and on his corn-    During his absence, Houston -was unanimously
plaint Houston was indicted and held to bail in  elected a member of the proposed Texas convention,
criminal process for a large sum.  He waited his and he accordingly took up his residence among his
trial, and was fined $500 and costs, but the sentence  new constituents, by whom he was warmly received.
of the court was never enforced, and one of the last'The convention, composed of some fifty members,
acts of President Jackson was to remit the fine. met in a rude log cabin at San Felipe de Austin,
During this whole contest, a contest brought upon  the seat of Government of A'ustin's colony, on the
himself by his love of truth and justice, and his   Ist of April, 1833.  After thirteen days' deliberafriendship for the Indian, Houston invited the most tion, this able body of constitution makers, who
searching scrutiny into his actions and life, and ex-  had to pay their own expenses, unanimously adoptposed himself as freely to the weapons of his enemies  ed one of the very best State constitutions extant,
as he had done at the battle of the Horse Shoe, and  and appointed  Stephen H. Austin, William  H.
when they were obliged to retire with mortification  Wharton, the president of the convention, and
and contempt from their ill-judged warfare against an IJames B. Miller, to carry it to Mexico, and to seek
honest man, he deliberately abandoned civilized life  for and obtain the admission of Texas into the conagain, and went into his favorite exile among the  federacy.  In 1832, Bustamente had subverted the
Indians.:                         constitution of 1824, and in this effort he was
Received on his return to the $West with every  joined by the military, but Santa Ana declared himdemonstration of regard, he could not be prevailed  self to be a friend of the constitution, and'the Anupon to remain in Tennessee, and though invited  glo-Saxon colonists sided with him in the civil revby Gen. Jackson to the most distinguished posts of olution, which put down his rival and the soldiery.
honor and emolument, he rejected them  all, and  Santa Ana was now in power, and the convention
found repose by the hearth-stone of a savage mon- of San Felipe regarded the mission of their corn-.
arch, after many months' persecutions by the Chris- mittee as certain to be successful, but they were
tain.  It was his intention now to devote himself destined to be disappointed.' Austin went alone to
to a'herdsman's life, in the tranquillity of the prai- the city of Mexico, was received with a cold forries, but he was not permitted to carry into execu-  mality, and given to understand that his mission
tion this design.  Leaving his wigwam on the Ist was not pleasing to Santa Ana, who was resolved,
of December, 1832, with a few companions, he  from the first, on converting the Government into




a military despotism.  The greatest care was taken  in the field, and adopt such measures as would give
by the convention to form a constitution as conso- the nation credit abroad. Accordingly the consulnant as possible to the prejudices and institutions of tation assembled at San Felipe, in a narrow  frame
the Central Government, which had already de- cabin, without ceiling or plastered walls, and made
generated into a despotis-, and to give effect to  a provisional declaration of independence, exhorting
-this policy, all banks and lanking corporations were  all Mexicans to stand- by the Mexican constitution
prohibited for nlinety-nife yeats by the proposed  of 18241, and pledging their lives, property, and
State, but the concesstion' had no effect in recom- sacred honor in support of its principles, established
mending the instruiment to Santa Ana.  In passing,   an organic law  for the provisional government of
it may be observedl that Houston's'influence in the  the Territory, and organized a te -mporary adrninisconvention was so predominant that he-may be said  tration of it.  Houston was on the committee to
to be the father of the constitution it made, and to  prepare a. declaration, and though the majority were
have given direction to. the events that followed.  in favor of an absolute declaration of inrlelpendence,
Austin had been seized and thrown into a dun-  he considered the movement'premlature, and in an
geon in the city of Mexico, and when the news of able speech carried his. policy of a provisional de-,the fate of this erlightened patriot reached his colo- claration.  The provisional government was to conny, it roused the colonists to a phrenzy of itdignra  tinue in office till superseded by regular officers
tion, and it was with the utmost difficulty that elected by the people, and measures were taken for
Houston could riistrain them  from  the display -of- raising a regular army and thoroughly organizing
their feelings in acts that would have plunged them  the militia.'
into a conflict with the home- Government before    An event now took place which decided the fate
they were prepared for it. After several months of of Texas, and that was, the election of Houston,
suffering, Austin was released by Santa Ana, and  by 49 out of 50 votes in the consultation, to be
returned home to find the opullic mind of the colony  commander-in-chief of the armies of Texas.  He
inflamed to a dangerous' degriee, and to discover accepted the appointment, selected his staff, and
that Santa Ana was aiming at nothing less than the  drew up the necessary bills for organizing the army,
possession of albsolute power.  The commerce of appointment of officers, &c.  Texas had not a dolTexas was now.most oppressively restricted, the  lar in her treasury, at this juncture, but Austin,
worst men were appointed to collect the customs,  Wharton, and Archer were already on their way to
taxation was increased to a ruinous height, justice  the United States, to borrow money, if possible, to
was refused to the people except at the price of'. enable the revolutionists to make good their cause.
enormous extortions, and the Mexican laws ani  Houston's hopes of money were not sanguine.
edicts were made  the instruments of wholesale ty   He relied on the resources, rather, of thle handful
ranny in the hlands of corrupt officials.  This was  of his fellow  citizens, who were embarked in the
the beginning of the end.  An edictissued by Santa  same cause with himself, -and on the generous paAna, conmunanding the people to surrender their triots of the country whence he had exiled himself.
arms, roused the colonists to resistance.  There was  He issued a proclamation, inviting 5000 mesn to
a four pounder at Gonzales, tile capital of Dewitt's join the cause of Texas.  Austin was succeeded by
colony, and a Mexican colonel, at the head of several Gen. Burleson, under whose command the army
hundredt dragoons, came fiom B3exar to carry it off, -kept the field.
but the colonists banded together, and not only res-    About. this time, Fannin and Bowie, with 100
cued the small piece, but determined to pursue the  men, encountered 500 Mexicans at the Conception
enemy, who had fired the first gun, and drove hinm  Mission,'and after a brilliant conflict forced the latfrom the country.  Austin was elected general of ter to retire with great loss, and mrarchel on to Bexar.
the forces, the alarm spread to the Sabine, commi-  After this event, Col. Milam offered to take the town
tees of vigilance and safety were appointed, the  of Bexar by storm, if a forlorn hope would join him,
militia was organized, Houston was chosen general and immediately 200 brave men rallied under his
of the forces east of the Trinity, and a consultative  banner, entered the town at night, made their way
body convened at San Felipe de Austin to devise  from  house to house, with crowbars, through the
means of safety.  In October, 1835, Austin march-  walls, and after several (lays' fighting, in one of
ed upon Bexar and invested it with- eight hundred  which the daring Milamn fell, got entire possession
men.  The consultative committee was organized  of the place, and the Alamo, the enemy's citadel,
at San Felipe de Austin,' when it received an invi- defended by I 100 Mexicans, capitulated.  The surtation to repair to Bexar.  In the mean time, Go- render of Bexar was followed by a disbanding of
liad had been captured by the citizens of Mataort3a  the colonial army, save the gallant spirits who had
and Victoria.  On the arrival of Houston and the  reduced the Alamo and two companies of volunteers
greater part of the convention at Austin's. camp be- from  the United States.  A  man- by the name of
fore Bexar, Austin offerectd lo surrender the com-  Grant, who was aid to General Austin, claimed the
mand to Houston, but. the latter positively declined command of the remnant-of the troops, after General
the magnanimous offer.  A counsel of war was im- Burleson had retired, and forthwith he projected the
mediately held, and it was -resolved to refer to the  invasion of Matamoras, and he was supported in the
army the question of forming a provisional govern.  project by the military committee of the General
ment, when it was unanimously voted that the mem-  Council that was hostile to Houston.  Col. Fannin
bers of the consultative committee should forthwith  united with the Council in its schemes against his
return to San Felipe, form a provisional government,  commander, notwithstanding he was indebted -to
devise ways and mrans to support the army then  Houston for his promotion to the post he then held.




7
The Council ordered Houston to establish his head-    On the day after its organization, the 2d of March,
quarters at Washington, 50 miles distant from their  18:36, the Declaration of Texan Independence was
meeting, and in his absence hurried on their in-  adopted and signed by the whole convention, and
trigues as rapidly as possible, while, unsuspicious of herein was felt and acknowledged the master-spirit
their designs, he assigned the officers to their several of Houston,. who, from that hour, was the saviour
recruiting stations, andl directed regular reports to be of his country. Events had contributed to precipimade to him. Fannin had been ordered to Brazoria, tate public opinion in favor of the Declaration of Inwhere he utterly disregarded the despatches of the  dependence, but no influence operated so powerfully
General-in-Chief, who, about this time, was charged  towards the accomplishment of'that glorious result
with a design, by his enemies, of establishing a  as the indomitable will and all-controlling energy of'militaiy government in Texas, at the head of 5,000  Houston.  In the United States and in Europe it
soldiers.                                         was styled by the enemies of democr'acy, an act of
On the 1st of January, 1836, Governor Smith,  high-handed robbery, perpetrated by' a band of bold
who had discovered the intrigues against the genera!-  outlaws, but to every man who believes that all poin-chief, ordered him to repair to San Felipe. More  litical power is and ought to. be derived from the
troops from  the Uniied States had arrived at the people, by express and direct grant, and that all
mouth of.the Brazos, but Fannin, who was at Bra- people, whenever'they choose to exercise it, have an
zoria, refused to report their arrival at head-quarters, inalienable right to overturn every form of governthough directed to do so, and abandoning his duty  ment which is not based upon this democratic prinin the regular armidy, took command as colonel of ciple, the Declaration of Texan Independence'was a
the new regiment formed out of the volunteers just just exhibition of the rightful power of the people,
arrived, to which post he had been elected by the  destined to be crowned with success.  Some days
Council.  The new regiment was ordered by the  before the consummation of this act, letters had been
Council to ren dezxvous at Pefugio, where it was to  received from Col. Travis, in command of the Alameet Grant with his command, and thence the ex- mo of Bexar, stating that he was beseiged by a
pedition to Matamoras was to set out.  Houston re- numerous force, and calling for assistance. Houston,
ported to the Governor, and was ordered to Refugio. foreseeing this result, had given orders to the comHe reached Goliad about the middle of January, and  manding officer to blow up the citadel and retire,
finding Grant and his force on the eve of their de- but he refused obedience, because the Council had
parture for Refugio, made known to the troops his  directed him to hold out to the last, promising to reorders, but Grant refused obedience to them.  Igno- inforce him, which was done with 3'0 men, making
rant of the extent to which the Council had gone, his force 185 effective troops, without a month's
in thwarting his policy of preparing for the enemy, provision, and cut off from the settlements by a terwhen he should appear in force, Houston could not ritory seventy miles in width and traversed by the
account for the extraordinary conduct of Grant, but enemy's cavalry.  The general convention took the
knowing it was impossible to hold Bexar, he des- place of the provisional government, and Houston repatched Cols. Bowie and Bonham, with an escort, signed his'major generalship, but therewas no other
to that town, with orders to the commanding officer man in Texas to whom the country could look in its
to blow up the Alamo and fall back to Gonzales, on  then need, and he was re-elected General in-Chief,
the Guadalupe, which he intended to make the line  by 55 out of 56i votes.  He accepted the command.
of defence. He accompanied the troops to Refugio, On Sunday, the 6th of March, a letter was received
but Fannin was not there, whereupon he took oc- from Col. Travis'to the president of the convention,
casion to dissuade the officers and their men from per- the last he'ever wrote, announcing that all was lost,
sisting in their attempt on Matamoras, showing them  whereupon the convention assembled in a tumult,
the folly of the undertaking, in a military point of and a motion was made that the cohvention should
view, and the certain disaster that awaited it, but adjourn, arm, and march to the relief of the Alamo.
fearing the effect of sedition in the army, which he  Houston, seeing that the hour had come when the
saw it was easy to excite, in consequence of the re- action of the convention would decide the fate of
luctance of the troops to bow to the command of any  Texas, determined what the Council should do, and
other general than himself, he set out from  Refugio  what he himselfshould do also. He opposed the moin the night, with his staff, and returned to San  tion in one of those effective speeches he is always reFelipe, to report to the Governor his failure to in-  markable for, when any great act is to be done, deduce Grant and other officers to return to their duty. nounceditastreasontothepeople, advisedtheC (onvenOn the road, he got intelligence that the Council had  tion to remain calmly at their posts and do their duty
deposed the Governor and superseded his'own au  to the country, by organizing a government, without
thority, and that Fannin had repudiated, in published  which they could not hope for the sympathy or reletters,' Houston's authority, and thrown hi,{self on  spect of mankind.  He spoke for an hour, and
the Council.  His eyes were now opened to the true  when he had finished, walked out of the Convensituation of the country, and he hastened to San  tion, and in a few minutes thereafter, with three or
Felipe, made an official report to the deposed Gover-  four companions, he was on his way to the Alamo.
nor, proceeded at once to the Texas Cherokees,    The party rode hard that day, and gained the
formed a treat2y with that tribe, in obedience to the  prairie, where they rested for the night, but at break
instructions of the convention, and. returned to  of the following day Houston was seen at a disWashington in time to be present at the general tance, by himself, listening intensely, as if expectconvention of the 1st of March, 1836, to which he  ing to hear a signal, for Travis had written that as
had been chosen a delegate.                       long as the.Alamo could hold out signal guns would




be fired at sunrise. For many successive days these  Mexicans.  On arriving at Lavaca, he remarked to
guns could be heard across the prairie, with a low, one of his aids, as he pointed to the little band that
rumbling sound, for nearly two hundred miles;, but seemed but a handlfull on the praries, that they both
that morning, Houston, whose sense of sound was saw before them the last hope of Texas, that neither
as acute as that of the Indian, listened in vain-not Fannin nor his men would ever be seen again, that
the faintest murmur floated across the air.  He knew  with the 500 men in sight, Texan Independence
the Alamo had fallen, and the event confirmed his must be asserted or lost.   That night he was
convictions, for the Alamo had fired its last gun on seen feeding a fire with splinters to make a light,
the morning he left Washington, and at the very  by which one of his aids reduced to writing his
moment he was addressing the Convention the vic- orders to the settlements on the Brazos, to send him
tims were meeting their dreadful fate. He returned  cannon, mules, horses, and ammunition.  On reachto his companions and wrote a letter to the Conven- in,- Navidad the next day, he was informed that a
tion, advising them to adopt a resolution declaring  blind woman with seven children had been passed,
Texas to be a part of Louisiana, under the treaty of without notice having been given her of the ap1803, but he was not present to enforce this wise  proach of the enemy, whereupon he ordered an aidsuggestion, and it was not heeded.  He reached  de-carmp and 50 men to go after them  and bring
Gonzales on the 10th of March, where he found  them into camp, refusing to stir a foot forward till
374 men, unorganized, without supplies, and badly  these helpless ones were safely brought in.
armed and clad. Previous to leaving Washington,    One of the general's despatches to the Military
he had sent an express to Fannin, ordering him to  Committee, (dated Navidad, sets down the force at
join him  on the Cibolo, intending to march to the  374 men, with two (lays' provision, many without
relief of the Alamo, but after the fall of that fortress arms and ammunition, no artillery, and all of them
was positively known, the general, by another ex- ignorant of the first principles of the drill.  In the
press, apprised him of that fact, ordered him  to  same despatch, he predicts?with fearful certainty
evacuate Goliad, blow up the fortress, and fall back  the tragedy of Goliad, and demonstrates that the afwithout delay on Victoria and the Guadalupe, so as fairs of the Alamo and Goliad were the obvious
to unite all the forces in the field, amounting to 900  fruits of disobedience of orders.  On the 17th of
effective men, well armed.                         March, he reached the Colorado, and having crossed
The news of the cold blooded massacre of the  that river, wrote to the Military Committee that, if
Alamo,' and the burning of the dead upon a vast only 300 men remained with him,he would conquer
funeral pile, flew like lightning through the colonies,  the enemy.  In a few days, Gen. Sezma, at the
anudstirred up a feeling that was never to sleep again. head of a column of the-Mexicans, reached the Colo.
Fannin's last order reached him eight days before he  rado, and while attempting to cross, was only preattempted a retreat, and he replied to the general-in-  vented from falling, with his whole force, into an amchief that he had held a council of war, that he  buscade, by the imprudence of a portion of the party
should not retreat, but would defend his post to the  lying in wait.  On the night of that day, a fugitive
last, calling it Fort Defiance, and that he was pre- came into the Texan camp and announced the maspared to answer for his disobedience of orders.  On  sacre of' Fannin and all his men.  This intelligence
the 12th of March Mrs. Dickinson arrived with her filled the army with consternation and despair, and
child at Gen. Houston's camp, with two negro guides, had it not been that the General-in-Chief denounced
who brought a proclamation of pardon to the insur-  the fugitive as a Mexican spy, though fully believing
gent colonists, if they would lay down their arals, in the truth of the news, it is now regarded as cerbut the proclamation was treated with contempt. tain that his whole army would have, deserted.  He
Mrs. Dickinson was the wife of one of the slaught  caused the fugitive to be arrested, announcing his
ered of the Alamo, and her account of that terrible  intention to' have him  shot the next morning, and
scene, of which she was an eye-witness, had struck  addressing his little army, he offered them many reahorror into the camp, before she was conducted to  sons why there should be no truth in the story.  A
the General, who, at the moment of her arrival, few days after this event, the army encamped on the
was walking alone, a short distance from his tent. Brazos, where it remained till the 11th of April,
When she told the troops that 5,000 men were ad-  with a small steamboat at command.  The detachvancing by forced marches, that their artillery would  ment left in charge of San Fan Felipe, on the arsoon -be heard at Gonzales, consternation spread on  rival of the enemy, retired to the east bank of the
all sides,-many setting fire to their tents, some fly- river and threw  up a breastwork of timber, upon
ing, and others wild with lamentations.  Houston  which the Mexicans opened their artillery, and this
coming up, ordered the fires to be extinguished, and  gave the General the first notice of the approach of
learning the cause of all this commotion, called to  the enemy's main body.  The entire force of the
his comrades, who gathered round him, and encour  Texan army, at that moment, did not exceed 520
aging them to be of good cheer, announced to them  men, but a reinforcement of 500 from the Red Lands
that he should fall back to a more secure position,  was daily expected, and they would have reached the
and accordingly, that same night, he ordered his camp in due time, had not the enemies of Houston,
camp to be struck, and the little band took up their in order to prevent their going forward, raised the
time of march. Foreseeing the disasters that fol- cry of Indian hostilities, and thus induced them to
lowed, the General-in-Chief, when he first reached  pause in their march.
Gonzales,. ordered all the women and children to. be    The enemy were marching upon the Texan Gensent to the inner settlements, being resolved that he  eral in three columns,-the centre led by Santa Ana
would never leave the helpless to the mercies of from  Bexar, by way of Gonzales, San Felipe and




.9
Washington, towards Nacogdoches, the southern  the Bayou Buffalo, near where it joined the San Jacolumn under Urrea, by way of Victoria, Brazoria, cinto, and prepared to give him a hot reception.
and -Iarrisburg, the northern column, under Gaono, The Mexican was fully apprised of the position of
by way of Bastrop, Tenoxtitlan, and -the Caman- the Texan, and boldly moved upon the latter, openche crossing on the Trinity, both the latter towards ing the battle with a brass twelve pounder, but a well
the same point.  Houston saw, at once, that these  directed fire from Houston's two six pounders turnmovements of the enemy had to be broken up in less ed the enemy's infantry and forced it to take shelter
than thirty days, or Texas would be swept with the  in a grove of timber.  This utovement of the Mexibesom of desolation, and all would he lost.  How  can being checked, he fell back near the Bay of San
this seemingly impossible work was to be achieved, Jacinto, about fifteen hundred yards from the Texan
no man but Houston knew, and all eyes were turned  lines, and bep a fortification.  " Had I pursued
to him as the only and last hope of Texas, under the'enemy thi$' morning," said Houston to one of
Providence.  While it was commonly believed that his confidential officers on the evening of tie day on
his army numbered 2,500 men strong, a belief the which he repulsed the Mexican column, " we should
error of which he took no pains to correct, lest it have conquered, but it would have been with a heavy
might thereby discourage reinforcements; his real loss, but to-morrow I will conquer, slacughter, and
situation was only known to the committee of safety put to flight yon whole army, and it shall not cost.at Nacogdoches.  The rivers were, every where, at the lives of a dozen of my brave comrades."  Col.
high flood, at that time, and he had reason to hope  Sherman, during the day, became impatient of delay,
that this impediment would retard the progress of' and in disobedience of his superior's orders, endeathe enemy, but by means of a boat, which had been  voted to bring on a general engagement, and it was
incautiously carried to the western bank, Santa Ana only prevented through the activity of the Generalwas enabled to pass the Brazos at Fort Bend on the in-Chief, and his prompt countervailing commands
11th of April. The northern column became be- and actions.  The Texan army retired to their camp,
wildered in its march, and descended the Colorado, and refreshed themselves for the first time in fortyand the southern division, hindered by the high  eight hours.  During the whole of the day, Houston
water, never passed the Brazos at all.           remained in the saddle, exposed to the. enemy's arAfter Houston had left the Convention so abrupt- tillery, and more than once narrowly escaped with
ly on the 6th of March, that body created a govern- his life.  After doubling the vigilance of the encampment ad interim, consisting of a President and  ment to prevent surprise, he laid himself under an
Heads of Departments, and then, instead of follow- oak to rest, wkh his saddle for a pillow, and without
ing Houston's advice, to remain at their posts, ad- covering, slept undisturbed through the whole night,
journed on the 17th of March, in consternation and  and when he awoke in the morning it was observed
dismay, to Harrisburg, seventy miles southeast of that every shade of anxiety had disappeared from his
Washington.  This dispersion of the convention, brow.
prevented more than anything else the assembling    Ordering two of the best axes in the camp to be
of reinforpements for the army, and Houston has al- brought to him, he gave them to his faithful and inways regarded it as fraught with greater evils to Tex- trepid comrade Deaf Smith, with directions to conas than even the march of the barbarous enemy. ceal them, so as to be able to lay hands on them at
But out of evil frequently cometh good, for Santa  a moment's warning, and not to be out of his call the
Ana abandoned his general plan of invasion, so far whole day.  -The morning wore away, and Gen.
as to diverge from his route to Nacogdoches, with a  Cos was seen with 540 men moving over the praiview to capture the new government, which, he had  rie towards the enemy's camp, but Houston, apprebeen informed, was at Harrisburg, towards which  hensive of the effect of such intelligence on his little
point Houston, now supplied for the first time with  band, pronounced the.afftir a mere ruse on the part
two six pounders, hastened with his whole army. of Santa Ana, and his opinion was publicly sustainAfter a fatiguing march, he arrived at Harrisburg,just ed by the spy, who had been sent out to ascertain
after it had been reduced to ashes by Santa Ana, the real state of facts.  At this juncture, a council
and captured two couriers from the city of Mexico, of war consisting of six field officers was called,
with important intelligence for the invading army. at their suggestion. The General-in-Chief, seatThe General in Chief at once decided upon giving, ed on the grass beneath a post.oak tree, submitted
battle, and issuing the necessary orders for the army  the proposition whether they should attack the eneto supply itself with three days' cooked rations, cross- my in his position, or whether they should wait for
ed the Buffalo bayou with great difficulty in a leaky  him to attack them in theirs? The two juniors in
boat, and on the 19th' of April formally announced  rank were in favor of attack, but the four seniors obhis determination to fight Santa Ana wherever he jected, alleging that such a movement as charging
could find him.  " We are but 700 strong," said he  a disciplined army in position by a raw soldiery, adin his despatch to the Secretary of War, " but we vancing in an open prairie, without the cover of argo *to conquest."  The army was drawn up, and  tillery, and with only two hundred bayonets, was
Generals Houston and Rusk (the latter Secretary of an unheard-of thing.  The council was dismissed.
War) addressed their comrades in few but stirring  The troops were sounded as to an attack, and were
words, giving  the watchword,  "'Remember the found to be favorable, and the General at once deAlamo."                                          termined, on his own responsibility, to give batWarned that Santa Ana was marching in order tle.  Deaf Smith and a companion were now sumto cross the San Jacinto, Houston anticipated him  moned to the General's side, and ordered to take
and posted himself in a copse of trees on a bend of the axes, which had been provided, and cut down




10
Vince's bridge, over which both armies had reached  the fate of the day, and the next instant the Mexithe battle ground.  It was now three o'clock in the  cans were flying in every direction before their purafternoon, and still the enemy showed no disposi- suers, wha continued to remember the Alatno, and
tion to come to an engagement.  Things had ta- executed fearful vengeance on their barbarous foe.
ken just such a course, as the General in-Chief ex- The enemy left in his entrenchments, amongst the
pected, and he at once began to prepare for the at- dead and wounded, nearly half of his eighteen huntack.  The first regiment under the command of dred effective men, who went into battie that day,
Gen. Burleson was assigned to the centre, the se- and at Vince's bridge and the morass in the rear of
cond regiment under Col. Sherman formed the left his camp, nearly four hundred are supposed to have
wing, while the artillery under Col. Hockley and  been slaughtered.  Towards the close of the day,
four companies of infantry under Lieut. Col. Millard  Houston's horse fell beneath him, pierced by no less
occupied the right. The cavalry, 61 in number, led  than seven balls, and in falling biought his master.
on by Col. Lamar, moved on the extreme'right, and  to the earth on his wounded leg, but calling for
in the course of a few minutes the whole army, ad  another horse, he remounted, rode slowly across the
vancing rapidly in line through the open prairie, were  field, and cheered by his comrades.  As he moved
within two hundred yards of the enemy's breast  along he spied two large ravens hovering over the spot
works.  The left wing was under the command of where the enemy's artillery had been posted, with
Gen. Rusk, who turned the enemy's flank in gallant their heads towards the west.  In a moment several
style, while the centre was led on by the General in-  muskets were seized by the men standing near, to
Chief.                                            bring them down, but Houston ordered them to deThe moment had at last come, the charge was  sist, remarking that the omen was a good one, that
ordered, and the war cry, -Rememrber the Alamo, it denoted the march of empire westward. Arriving
resounded from all sides with a terrific shout, while  shortly afterwards at the oak under which he had
the two six-pounders opened a well-directed fire of slept the previous night, he received Almonte as a
grape and canister.  At that instant, Deaf Smith, prisoner of war from the han:ls of Gen. Rusk, and,
swinging an axe over his head, rode up and commu-  exhausted by loss of blood, fainted and fell from his
nicated with the General, who immediately dashed  saddle.
along the lines and announced the destruction of    Thus ended the bloody battle of San Jacinto, a
Vince's bridge. "Now fight for lives, boys, and  battle that has no parallel in the annals of human
remember the Alamo!" exclainied the General, in a  warfare, for the accomplishment of so great a result
clear distinct voice. The effect of this intelligence  as that which followed it, with such insignificant
was electric, and the whole column of seven hundred  means as those which were employed by the mighty
Texans, swayed and animated with the strength and  man who'led his comrades to victory.  Of the
fury of ten times seven hundred men, rushed for- eighteen hundtred men comprising Santa Ana's ar.ward, with Houston at their head, right into the  my, seven only escaped froe,, the field, leaving eight
teeth of their foe.  The Mexicans were drawn up in  hundred as prisoners o(f war, while all the rest perperfect order, and reserved their fire till the Texans ished.  The Texan' loss was seven killeddnd thirty
were within sixty yards, but the mass of their storm   wounded!  The next morning a detachment was
of lead went over the heads of the assailants.-  sent by the victor to bury the enemy's dead, but they
One ball shattered Houston's ankle, and several returned and announced that decomposition had prostruck his horse in the breast, but heeding none of gressed so rapidly as to render it impossible for them
these things, the General spurred his charger on  to execute the order.-  In the mean time the Texans
with redoubled speed, closely followed by the whole  were scouring the country and bringing in prisoncolumn at an increased and fearful pace,  The  ers.  Houston gave orders to examine closely every
Texans reserved their fire till within pistol shot,  man captured, predicting that Santa Ana would be
when every ball told with dreadful effect on the  caught making his retreat. Lieutenant Sylvester,
Mexican lines, and before the latter could reload, of Cincinnati, was riding over the prairie about 3
they were engaged hand to hand with their infuriat-  o'clock on the day after the battle, when he spied a
ed foes, who, on their side, not stopping to reload  man running towards Vince's bridge.  The moment
their rifles, broke them over the heads of the inva- the fugitive saw that he was,pursued, he sank down
ders, discharged their pistols, and closed the work.in the grass, but upon Sylvester's coming up to
of slaughter with their huge bowie knives, by abso- where he was, he sprang to his feet and looked his
lutely hewing their way through dense masses of captor full in the face.  Sylvester saw at once that
living flesh.  The right and left wing of the enemy  the skin cap, the round jacket, the trowsers of coarse
had been routed, but his centre remained firm, and, blue cotton, and the common shoes, were a disguise,
at one moment, repelling the desperate charge of the  and being joined by his companions, conveyed the
Texans, he was preparing with a division of more  prisoner to camp, who desired to be carried before
than five hundred men to fall upon the battalion of Gen. Houston.  As he passed the Mexican prisonTexan infantry, when Houston, seeing the move- ers, their exclamations betrayed his character-it
ment, putting himself at the head of his comrades, was Santa Ana!  He was taken at once to Housand calling on them to follow him, giave the order to  ton, who was lying on the ground endeavoring to
fire. There seemed to be but one explosion, so instan- compose himself to sleep.  He took his victor's hand,
taneous was the fire, and the enemy's charging force  when the latter, rousing himself, looked up in the
was literally mowed down as with a scythe-only  face of the Mexican, who announced himself to be
thirty-two out of five hundred remaining in their the President of Mexico and Houston's prisoner of
shoes as prisoners of war.  This movement decided  war. Houston asked the prisoner to be seated on a




11
box near by, and sent for Almonte  to  interpret,  snuff-colored pantaloons, a black velvet vest, a fur
when the following conversation took place between  cap, and a worn out pair of boots, with a huge
the two Generals, Houston resting on his elbow   sword attached to his side by buckskin thongs.  To
upon the ground:                                           the proposition of the former for his liberty, Houston
Santa  nam.-'Thle  lleror of tlle Napoleon of thie Test is  replied that he had no power in the premises, that
born to no cOmrinll deliiny, andr he canll afford to be generous  the question would be referred  by him to the Govto the vaiquiseld.                                         ernminent of Texas, intelligence that was exceedingly
ttouston.-Yon  shosuld have rememrbered that, sir, at the
Alamo!                                                   distasteful to the Mexican.
Sentta dn.a -The Alamo was  -alkeni by storm, and tihe      Meantime, the other divisions of the invading
usages of war jee.isfierd the stau'hiter of the vansi sished.
usa~es o   a iislil the sIldoolten of trle vanilaoncvlze ardmy commenced their retreat from  Texas to the
Hlmtston.-S-Such utsages do not now lprevail anmong civilized
nations.                                                  west side of the Rio Grande, under the express orSanta Xrza. —I was acting. under the orders of my Govern-  ders of their captive presidnlt, which had been formeo'tsto.- u al   e CGovernment yoirself, sir.          warded to them  by Houston.   When the news of
Santa dinta.-T Ihave such orders in my possession.      the victory reached the ears of the fugitive ad inteHoutstoI.-iA di(:tatoi, sir, his no superior.           rirn  Government of Texas, its members slowly reSgnt's..,a -ivT os.lers wse e to exterminate every manl found
in arms ill Texas,  to tre-t all such as piiates, because they havepairecd  to the headquaters of the General in chief.
no Govellnment andt asie titillg under no reognizel fiag.  Houston's advice to the Government was, to treat
HI-ostosn.-I ive no (1dobt. sou hiaive fosil oslt iy thlis time  with Santa Ana only on the following terms: 1. The
that tlie Texaans have mth at. Gsvertnieunt ands   a flag, but ad- 
mitting the force of vour plea s or i he Sall Antonio masiacre, you  recognition of the independence of Texas by Mexico.
have no excuse tol ile Fatnin slauhlter, tor lie had capituluated  2. The western limit of Texas to be the Rio Grande
on tile termsli offered by your iGeneral, atid yet his whole corn-  to its source.  3 ndemnity for all losses sustained
maud was murldered wvithiout arms in their hands.
Santa d          wna.-I knew niothin of i their ca;)italation, but ordered  by Texas during the war.  4. All Texan prisoners
their execution uisoni t:ln retilesenltation1 of Gen. Urrea, that he  to be restored to  liberty.  5. Instantaneous withhad conqersel  I        irteom iad emiatlette.    drawal of all Mexican troops from  Texas, and the
Ho._ston.-I  A:?now, sir, that the commaud had capitulated.
Sansta sda. —Tshen I wvas irior;lant of the fact, iand if ever I  restoration  of all property to its owners.  6. The
get Urrea into i,, hands, I will execute him for his duplicity, t'o  retention of Santa'Ana as a hostage, till these prohe had no anthoroity to receive their capitulation at all.
visions of the  treaty were executed.  Volunteers
Here the conversation  ended for a while, and  now began to rush in from all quarters, and HousSanta Ana asked for opium, which was given him,  ton being rendered' helpless by his wound, General
when Houston ordered his marquee and luggage to  Rusk, at his instance, was appointed by the Govbe restored to him, and requested him  to give direc-  ernment to succeed  him  in  the  command of the
tions to the other divisions of his army to instantly  army, that now  required the most rigid discipline
evacuate the coulintry and retire to Monterey, which  and order to  be  maintained to  make it effective.
directions were at once given, and intrusted to Dick  Santa Ana, from the time he was delivered over to
Smith to be delivered.  Almonte and Houston then  the Government, experienced a great change in his
entered into conversation, in which the latter vindi-  treatment, anl was subjected to the most irritating
cated his policy, to the full satisfaction of the forter,  anrd  humiliating  surveillance.   The  hostility  of
of postponing the battle to the  second  day, and  Houston's home enemies, that first manifested itself
when  the  conversation  was interpreted to  Santa  in the conduct of the military council, in the affairs
Ana, he remarked that he now for the first, time un-  of Fannin and Grant, though silenced for the timederstood the American character, and that he was  being by the  presence  of the common  foe, -now
convinced Americans'could never be conquered.             broke out afresh, and as the ad interin  president
Houston knew  that there was scarcely a man in  tand many of the civil officials were of this party, the
the army who did not wish to see Santa Ana expiate  hero, who, by his valor and wisdom  had saved the
his crimes upon the scaffold, but he determined that  count'ry, was subjected to even  more harsh treatno violence, no indignity should be offered to the  ment than the captive President -of Mexico, from
captive, and in  this resolution he was influenced,  whose first approach they had fled in terror.  Infirst, by the great principle of charity to the neigh-  stead of treating him  with all the consideration that
bor, and secondly by the dictates of a just public  his eminent services merited, these ungrateful and
policy.  He had great difficulty in'preventing his  timid men, who chanced to be in authority, absoassassination, but his superior knowledge of what  lutely determined to leave the victor upon the field
was in man, enabled him to counteract the feelings  of San Jacinto to die, and refused him, to his face,
of vengeance, that were too deeply indulged in by  a passage on the steamboat that was to carry them
the army, and when the hour and the occasion pass-  and Santa Ana to Galveston.  But the captain of
ed, when men saw how much and how unworthily  the vessel vowed that he would  never leave the
they had been under the influence of their passions,  shore without Houston, and, taking his crew, went
how  Houston had saved them  from  themselves, it  and brought the wounded soldier on board.  The
was universally  acknowledged  that no  man  but  Surgeon-General was discharged  from  the  service
Houston could have prevented the murder of Santa  by Col. Lamar, the new- Secretary of War, for acAna.  On the first night after. -his capture he slept  companying the wounded chief to Galveston, and
in his marquee, with every comfort of camp life, while  the  General was refused, by the Government, a
his victor lay on the cold ground near by, suffering  passage in  the Texan  ship-of-war Republic, then
excruciating pain from  his wound.  -The next day,  about to sail for New'Orleans.  These petty annoySanta Ana, elegantly clad in the garb of a civilian,  ances ruffled not his temper, though it excited the
approached  Houston prostrate with his wound on  indignation of the people and the army, but he exthe earth, dressed in an old black coat, a pair of horted them  not to be carried away -by any feeling




12
for him-to do their duty to their country.  His  Rusk, but on repairing-to head quarters, not one in
address to the army, on parting with them for a sea- eighteen out of 1,800 troops in the camp, would conson, is full of the gratitude and affection, which a sent to serve under him-the rest positively refusing.
brave Inan only can feel- for the brave, and teaches    The administration ad interim, feeling that they
that subordination and discipline are the only'roads had not the confidence of the people, and swayed
to military invincibility.  Embarking with his staff by no other motive than hatred of Houston and a
on board the little American schooner Flora, he  wish to crush him, which they became convinced it
reached New Orleans, after a long and tedious pas- was impossible to do, gladly gave way to the election
sage, in a dying state, as was supposed.  He carried  of a President by the people, which had been proviwith him the first confirmation of the news of the  ded for, under the new constitution.  Houston was
great battle.  He was landed amid the greatest ex  pressed on all sides to consent to take the office,
citement and rejoicing, and after a two week's so- and seeing, that the time had come for him to save
journ at the house of his friend Col. William Christy, the new  Republic, a second time, but this time,
he so far recovered as to set out on his journey for fiom its internal foes, he assented, ant was elevated
Texas again, but this time by the way of the Red  to the Presidency, almost by acclamation.  An elecriver.  Arrived at San Augustine, he heard that the  tion, at the same time, took place for Senators and
Government had made a treaty with. Santa Ana on  Representatives, and on the- 3d of October, 1836,
the basis of his (Houston's) recommendations, and  the first Congress of the Republic of T'exas assemwas resolved on his liberation, but there was also  bled at Columbia, and the new President was inauguintelligence that the enemy was preparing for an- rated on the 22d of the same month. A brief, but
other invasion, whereupon he addressed the people. masterly inaugural address, breathing the wisdom of
with such effect that 160 men took up arms and set counsel in every line of it, and the laying of his
out for the frontier.  Meantime news was received  sword upon the civil altar, constituted the principal
that the army had demanded of the. Government the ceremonies.  The selection of his heads of departsurrender, trial, sentence, and execution of Santa  ments was guided by the most magnanimous policy,
Ana, upon which the Hero immediately addressed  and the people, for the first time in their existence
a remonstrance to the army against the consumma-  as a nation, felt that their government would be adtion of such an act, as violating the principles of ministered with purity, honesty, firmness end wishumanity and the terms of the treaty, as contrary to  dom. [Santa Ana, during these events, had been
the true policy of Texas, and as utterly destructive  saved from  the fury of his insensate enemies, and
of the national character of the new Republic.'rhis was detained as a captive, under a guard of 20 men,
protest saved Texas from the ignominy and execra-  about twelve miles from the Seat of Government,
tion which such an act would have surely brought whither Houston repaired, determined to wipe out
upon her fair fame and name, and Houston removed  the stain of dishonor from the name of Texas, with
to Niacogdoches, where he nursed his wound tillthe  which the conduct of the late administration had
following autumn.                                 sullied it.  Gen. Jackson, to whom  Santa Ana had
After the adoption of the treaty of the 14th of written, after the violation by Texas of the treaty of
May with Santa Ana, after he was on board the  May 14th, replied to him  in terms of the highest
Texas war schooner Invincible, bound for Vera Cruz, praise of Houston's treatment of him, after the batand after he had issued his farewell address to the  tle, and considered it as even of greater value than
Texan army, in which he gave them  all credit for the victory, itself, for said the Old Hero: "Let those
their courage and generosity, and promised them  *who clamor for blood, clamdr on, the world will
they would never have cause to regret their kind- take care of Houston's fame."  After a brief contest
ness, Mr. Thomas J. Green, who had just landed  with the Senate, which was for detaining the prisonat Velasco with about 100 volunteers, determined  er, Houston determined to release the captive at
that Santa Ana should be tried and executed. The  once, on his own responsibility, and on the 25th of
popular feeling was on his side, Lamar had issued  November, Santa Ana, attended by Colonels Hockhis protest against the Mexican's release, and the ley and Bee, and Major Patton, set out for the
President ard interim yielded to this outrageous vio  Seat of Government of the United States, by way
lation of the public faith, formally pledged in the  of the Sabine.
treaty of the 14th of May, and ordered the captive    President Houston now  despatched William  H.
on shore, but the latter refusing, Green went on  Wharton and Memucan Hunt, as Ministers to Washboard the vessel, and by the exhibition of brute force, ington, with instructions to commence negotiations
compelled him  to yield, after a protest against the  for annexing Texas to the United States, but such
act, which absolved him from all legal obligations was the temper of the public mind upon this quesimposedupon him by the treaty.  How  different tion, at that time, in this country, that nothing was
would have been the result, had Houston been at effected beyond sowing the seed of so natural and so
Velasco, may be inferred from his known regard for wise a policy, though through the agency of Preston
law  and the public faith, for when intelligence of of Soath Carolina, and Walker of Mississippi, and
this act reached him, he promptly remarked, that other distinguished Senators, the independence of
had he been the President, he would have upheld  Texas was acknowledged by this Government, and
the faith of the nation, at all hazards, and before the  the last time Gen. Jackson ever put his pen officially
mob should have laid hands on Santa Ana, they  to paper, was to sign the resolution of Congress to
would have had to pass over his dead body. About that effect.  Houston's policy, from the beginning,
this time, Col. Lamar was appointed General-in- was annexation to the United States, but as his
Chief of the army, over the heads of Houston and  offer had been rejected by our Government, fie de



13
termined to conduct his administration on principles  was fully realized.  At the close of his first adminthat would secure confidence at home and inspire  istration, he left the Government perfectly organized
respect abroad, to lay the foundations of the Republic  with officers of ability, integrity, and economy, in
deep and strong, to husband its resources, never to  every branch of the public service-Texas was at
cripple the State with a public debt, and to be the  peace with the. Indian tribes, and had a growing comPresident of the whole people, and not of a faction.  merce with her enemy over the Rio Grande-the naSuch was his cultivation of friendly relations with  tion owed a million and a half of dollars, and its pathe Camanche and other Indian tribes on the frontier  per money, of which $600,000 were out, was at
of Texas, that he saved the Republic from their in   par —the proposition of annexation to the United
cursions, and made them  to love and venerate his  states had been withdrawn-the frontier counties
name.  As yet, the Government had no money in  were filling up, and the tide of immigration was setting
its treasury, except its own paper, had no credit to  in from abroad-justice was begun to be administerborrow any, atid still there was an army in the field  ed with even hand, where before confusion and mobof 2,400 men, whicT- had to be supported. A crisis, law prevailed-and the arts of peace and industry
even more dangerous than any that had arisen, hither-. were every where taking the place of military indoto, now assailed the country-it was threatened with  lence and the hunter's unproductive life.  Had the
a collision betweei the army and the civil authority. constitution permitted, he would have been re-elected
The general of the army had projected an expedition  by acclamation, but the country was to lose his seragainst Matatnoras, and to his standard flocked all vices to learn their value, and the sudden death of
who were discontented with the President, while the  the excellent gentleman who was the administration
second il command of the army threatened to march  candidate, just before the election, gave the presito Houston and overturn the'government. The Pre  dency to Gen. Larmar, who was the head of the opsident saw the evil that had comle upon the country, position.
and forthwith quietly despatched the  secretary  of    The  incoming  dynasty attempted  to  prevent
War to the camp, with sealed orders, to be opened  Houston from delivering a valedictory address, but
after his' arrival. The ordersinstructed the Secretary  when the assembled masses became aware of this
to furlough the whole army, by companies, till insult to the hero of San Jacinto, they unceremoniit was reduced to six hundred men, and to, march  ously set aside the ceremonies of the inauguration of
them  to certain points on the sea-coast.  The fur-  of the new president, arid, listened for three hours
loughs were  unlimited,- but they were'liable to  to the old president's speech, which swayed to and
be terminat id at any time, by proclamation, and  fro the dense thousands, as the strong wind sweeps
if those Jurloughed, did not report themselves in  over the forest.  President Lamar's administration
thirty days ili'er the proclamation, they were to  was diarnetrichlly opposite to that of President
be considered atlld treated as deserters.  He could  Houston's, in every important particular.  The exnot break up the ariny outright, for he had nothing  termination of the Indians, deadly hostility to anto pay theii offl' with, and the danger of such an ex-  nexation, a national bank, a splendid government,
ercise ot power,' hall tbeen too manifest in the attempt of removal of the capital to Austin, arld the erection of
Gen. VVt rsiliiigtorl to disband the army of the North,  expensive national buildings, an expedition to reto let Houston ftall into the same error, and yet so  duce Santa Fe and the whole northwest country,
entirely laid all subordination been broken down, so  extensive issues of government paper money, negodaring were the scenes of violence committed by the  tiations with Arista to unite the northern Departdesparate atil lawless bands of the camp, that he de-  rients of Mexico wvith Texas, a great national road,
terminedt to get rid of the evil.  A'hen the various  negotiations with Mexico for peace, alliance with
compaires reached their destination, they made the  Mlexico by the marriage of the President with the
best of their way to the United States, fearing they i daughter of Gomez Farias, one of the public funcwould not get out of' the country before the proclam- tionaries of that country, violation of the treaty of
ation was issued, anld the result obtained was the very  Texas with the Cherokees, and a sanguinary war
purpose arud aim of the President, in this admirably  against therrm, increase of the army and navy, necoinceived arid well executed stroke of policy.  No  gotiations for a union with Yucatan, quadrupling
sooner was the issue known,'than the country felt the national debt by extravagant and useless exthat it had been saved from the greatest danger that pendilures, breaking down the postal system of the
ha d yet assailc.d it.                              country, profligacy in high places-such were some
The early Congresses of Texas seemed not to feel o' the doctrines and measures of this unfortunate adthat they had a country to legislate for, lbut rather  mrinistration, unfortunate to the actors in it, and doubly
acted, as though their mission was to enrich their so to the country.  Things had even been worse if
members by plundering the people.  During Hous- Houston had not been in Congress during those two
ton's two terms of office, he acted always on his own  years of misrule, for on one occasion he absolutely
responsibility, holding but few cabinet councils, and  p-Jevented a dissolution of the Government, and
vetoed no less than sixty-five bills, thus prevent-  thus saved the country a third time by his timely
ing the couontry fromt being absolutely ruined. The  counsel and burning appeal to the members of Confirst land law of Texas, vetoed by him, but adopted  gress, which was on the eve of adjourning sine die,
over his head, opened the door to all sorts of fraud, utterly despairing of its ability to legislate for the
and is to this day, a fruitful source of litigation about nation, and to carry on the Government in the
land titles.  He vetoed a paper money bill, but the  midst of the corruption and ruin that prevailed on
same bill was parsed under his successor's adminis- every side.  The three years of misrule and maladtration,'ad the ruinous result, predicted by Houston, ministration'drew to a close, and the people, with




almost one acclaim, summoned Houston to the presi-  down, economy had been restored to the administradency a second time, and he came to the rescue  tion of affairs, and the public credit began to feel the
once more.                                         effect of restored confidence, and flouston's wise
He was inaugurated on the 13th of December, measures of policy.  The Santa Fe prisoners were
1841, and the first greeting he had in office was the  liberated, in consequence of the earnest and nevernews of the fatal Santa Fe expedition, but he im   tiring negotiations of thq President,;and a powerful
mediately set to work to redeem  the unfortunate land successful appeal was addressed tothe great Chrisvictims of his predecessor's policy. Under his recomn- tian Powers of the earth which had acknowledged
mendation, Congress suspended the payment of the  the independence of Texas, to interpose with Mexico,
old debt, and that had been increased from  one and, and induce her her to put an end to her harrassments,
a half millions to twelve millions, authorized the is  pillage, and robbery of the western borders of the
sue of $200,000 in paper, the redemption of which  new republic.
was guarantied by the hypothecation of the revenue    In the latter movement, which attracted more atfrom  customs, and by the help of this new systemn  tention in Europe than any other act of the kind in
of currency, he was enabled to revive, in some mea- the annals of diplomacy, the tUnited States took no acsure, the ability of the Government to discharge its tive part.  This appeal was considered in Europe as
daily obligataions.  Calling to his assistance gentle  one of the ablest state papers that was ever written,
mnen of acknowledged ability and' purity of purpose, and it opened the eyes of England and France to the
an whom  he could rely, he marked out his policy, importance and necessity of cultivating political and
and went calmly and firmly to its execution, regard.. commercial relations with a people whose counsels
less of the opposition, which was composed of the  and policy were animated by suc h principles asthose
elements of the late administration.  He re-opened  contained  in this remarkable des~atch.  England,
negotiations at Washington for annexation, deter- ever on the alert for the promotion of her own intemined, if he failed again in this application, to seek  rests, interposed, and an armistice between Texas
the recognition of Texan Independence by Mexico, and her unforgiving enemy was extorted from Santa
and failing in that, to enter into some treaty or Ana, by Houston's successfully turning the diploalliance with France or England, which would se- matic artillery of the Mexican against -himself.  This
cure the peace of Texas, extend her commerce, and  consummation decided.President Houston to take no
permit her to move forward on the high road to pros- further action in relation to annexation, but to wait
perity.  His next movement was to recall the navy, the issue of events. Htis policy was what every
which had been sent to aid a revolt in Yucatan.  In  sound statesman must approve, and that was, to
the exposed situation of the;ountry, when an ir- maintain with France and England the most friendly
ruption of Indians or an invasion of Mexicans, which  relations, and in the event the -United States would
had been provoked by the policy of the late admin  not consent to annexation, which was his favorite
istration, was reasonably apprehended, Houston asked ipolicy, to fall back upon a treaty. ofifensive and deCongress for subsidies, but it adjourned without fensive, against Mexico, with either England or
granting them, and shortly after Vasquez crossed the  France, as a powerful ally, and so advance rapidly
Rio Granrde with a Mexican force.  The utmost to power.  In all hi:t dtspatches to his ministers at
alarm pre'vailed, the opposition to the President sud IWashiington, this policy was steadily. adhered to, and
denly ceased, and the country looked for another in- in all his negotiations he acted with,he most perfect
vasion, while the President, not believing that the  honor and fairness with the three great powers, for
invaders would make any progress thenr-they soon i England gave her medtiation with'Iexico uncondiretreatedl-appealed to the American people for aid, tionally.  In the mean time, Presidient'Tyler, seeing
in a future emergency, and sent agents to this country  the danger which threatenerl the Texa:; question, by
to procure volunteers and receive contributions, but the course which England had tike t, wisely deteras'l'exs ad no money in her treasury, he requirel mined on negotiating a treaty of annexation, but it
that no folunteers would be received unless perfectly  was lost in the Senate by the party conflicts in which
armed and provisioned for a campaign of six months. I he was unfortunately involved. In a private letter
This appeal brought men enough without arms or to ou          ter    r minister  the Texan Government, Presiprovisions, but no money, and the President called  dent Houston addressed himself to the Texas quesCongress together to devise means for the national tion with the eye of a prophet, and the foretold what
defence, whereupon they met, voted him ten millions  has since, in a great measure, taken place.  His
of acres of the public domain. to carry on the cam- second term  came to an end, and annexation, his
paign with, and invested him with dictatorial pow- favorite policy, had not been accomplished, but
ers-the last man in the world to offer such authori  enough had been done to rennder  it certain to his
ty to.  He vetoed this extraordinary bill, in the  mind that the'United States would do w.hat was yet
midst of a storm of opposition to him, more violent to be done, without proupting, and as his admninistrathan any that had hitherto assailed his devoted head, tion was continued in the person of his confidential
but whenr he demonstrated that the bill was utterly  friend, his Secretary of State, his policy was still fol.insufficient to provide the means, for a campaign  lowed, his views still consulted, hIis voice still heard,
against MAexico, and frankly told the country that he  so that there could be no fLilure of final accomplishnever would accept dictatorial powers to fight against ment, so far as Texas herself was concerned. He left
the same powers in a neighboring State, the storm  office under brilliant auspices, for thre was peace with
against himn blew over, and the people glorified him  all the Indian tribes, the navy was.laid up, emigration
more than ever.  An open rebellion against the  was pouring in, Mexico had sheathed her sword for
laws of the country had, in the meantime, beenput the time, and annexation was near its consummation.




15
The new Republic, soon afterwards, became one  Ana, and Houston did. For powers of civil adminof the States of this Union, and the Hero of San  istration, he has proved himself to be fully equal to
Jacinto was called to represent her in the United  any civilian who has ever lived, for no civilian, in
States Senate.  His course in the Senate has been  either ancient or modern times, ever had a Governmarked by all that soundness of judgment and de- ment like that of Texas to create, and administer,
votion to his country, for which he has ever been  and recreate, after its practical dissolution by his enedistinguished.  When Mexico invaded the State of mies, and Houston had. As a law-giver, the history
Texas, his counsels were the same as those when  of Texan and American legislation attests to his
she invaded the territory of Texas, to exterminate  clear perception of the wants and necessities of men.
the handfull of colonists who had dared to assert Justice, mercy, and charity have ever balanced his
their rights-they were for war.  When the ques- public acts, and hence the unbounded admiration
tion came up in Congress, for disposing of the ter- of the people for him.  No respecter of persons,
ritories acquired by the war, from the ancient enemy  the poor, the helpless, the widow, the orphan, the
of Texas, he was found, at the head of the sound  working-man, and above all, woman, have ever found
counsels that afterwards prevailed, for, when every  in him a friend in need, and avindicatorof theirrights.
thing was in confusion, he suggested, on the 8th of He illustrates his democracy by his mode of life,
February, 1850, the principles of -the measures that for he lives in a log cabin, the latch string of whose
were afterwards adopted, and contributed more per- door is not only not pulled in, but whose hospitable
haps than any other man in Congress to the exist- door itself is always wide open to invite the waying lettlement of the subject.  His speeches on this farer in. His hands have never been tainted with corquestion abound in that practical wisdom which has ruption, and his private interests have never been
ever characterized his public acts, and to no man  permitted by him to come in conflict with his pubmore than to him, did the people look with more  lic duties.  He has never used his official station to
confidence for a solution of the difficulties which  promote his private welfare, or suffered it to be used
our new territories brought with them, for every re- by others for his personal benefit.  During his long
flecting man knew that Texas alone could untie the  and brilliant career as a public servant, he has ever
Gordian knot, and that as Sam Houston and his guarded the immense sums of the publictreasure,
colleague werit, so would their constituents go.  over which he has had control, with dragon-like
Houston's character may be summed up in a few  care, and his accounts of his stewardship in this rewords..                                  spect, have established for him  the character of a
He is an honest, brave, and humane man, with a just, and honest, and a faithful man.  He is a man
clear head, a well balanced lmind, and a soul that of his word, never promises what he cannot do, and
loves the truth for its own sake. As a military man, never omits or neglects to do what lie promises.
he ranks equally with the greatest captains of any  Such a man is reserved, as Santa Ana well predicage, if results be the measure of qualification, and  ted, for no ordinary destiny, and as he has executed,
there can be no better standard of judging correctly  with honor to hiliself and glory to his country, all
on any subject. If compared with the two soldiers, the highest offices of trust, which the people of
who led our arms to victory in Mexico, he carries two nations had to bestow, but one, it will be for
away the palm of supremacy, for neither of themr  the American people to fill up the measure of justice
ever fohght a battle of San Jacinto, and Houston  and gratitude to a faithful public servant, by making
did;, neither of them, though at the head of the  him
armies of the United States, ever captured Santa IPRESIDENT OF THE UN ITED STATES.
3  F: Printedl by J. T. To asts, W9ashington,  D. C. —rice onc dollar per 100 copies  Orders& ac-'c'lpanied by thee cash, cAn b6e supplied; and forw frded ather by mail, 9i by Expresi&