Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-24
GolInfin, UednesdaY, Apri

The citizens met dCCoTulHg W duJouiphehS
all the members Of the committee were present
Except COL Montgomery and presented the
following report: :.
The committee appointed to express the senti-
ments of this meeting in relation to the character
of Mrs. Eliza H. Houston, and the ca uses which
led to a separation from her husband, beg leave
to present. that on the God day OF January, 1877,
Gen. Samuel Houston, the then Governor OF len
nessee, was married to Miss Eliza II. Allen, the
daughter of Mr.. John Allen, highly resPecta-
BILE citizen of Sumner county. Miss Allen was
born in the town of Gallatin and has been raised
in the county of Sumner, and ispersonaliy known
to the whole committee, majority OF whom have
known her from her infancy. Up to the time of
her marriage with Gov. Houston, no lady sus-
tanned and the committee think Justly sustalned)
fairer and more unsulled reputation for all those
virtues which embellish and adorn the female
character.
The committee deem it unnecessary at this
time to animadvert on the character and cchduct
of Gov. Houston. except so far as they may be
inseperably connected With the investigation and
development of the character of his unfortunate
wife.
1t appears that very shortly after the marriage,
Gov. Houston became Jealous of his wife and
j.
parently in confidence, yet the committee are not
informed that ne made any specific charges, only
that he believed that she was monument and VOID
of the affections which wife ought to bear to-
wards her husband. The committee cannot doubt
but that he rendered his wife unhappy by his un-
founded jealousies of her GOODNESS and want OF
alta chment, and she was constrained, by sense
of duty to hersefand her family, to separate from
her infatuated husband and return to her parents,
which she did early in the month OF April last;
since which time she has remained IN state OF
detection and dependency.
The committee will close this report by observ-
ing that they are informed that Gov. Houston has
lately made tour through the middle States and
has returned to Nashville on his way to Arkansas
where they understand he has located himself III
the Cherokee nation; and it has been suggested
that public sympathy has been much excited IN
his favor, and that belief has obtained in many
places abroad that he was married to an unwor-
thy woman. and that she has been the cause OF
all his misfortunes and his downfall as man &
politician; whereas, nothing is farther from the
fact; and without charging him with malignity OF
heart or baseness of purpose, the committee have
no hesitation in saying that he is deuded man:
that his suspicious were groundless: that his un-
fortunate wife is now and ever has been IN the
possession of a character unimpeachable: and that
she is an innocent and injured woman there is not
the semblance of doubt.
The committee have had placed in their hands
letter from Governor Houston to Mr.. Allen.
written shortly after the separation, copy of
which they subjoin, without comment:
Mr.. .4Hen-The most unpleasant and unhap-
py circumstance has just taken place in the fami-
ly, and one that was entirely unnecessary at this
time. Whatever had been my feelings or OPT
mons in relation to Eliza at one time, have been
satisfied, and tits now unfit that any thing should