Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-06-30
w 7 s G q Z. Z A NJ z.
From the Washington Correspondence of the
Enquirer and Courier.
GEN HOUSTON


eer, must rank him with the no blest
chieftainssof the day. He has van-
pushed and taken captive one of the
nFest sanguinary chiefs of the age--he
has captured Santa Anna, a man
grown old in war, g. schooled in scenes
Of bloodshed. He has triumphed over
a man who has thrice revoIutionized
Mexico, and now holds captive chief
tain who made lturbide a monarch, g.
who subsequently hurled him from the
throne. Houston was almost destitute
of means and men-Santa Anna had
almost inexhaustible means at his dis
posal-he possessed a we'll disciplined
army-great personal popularity,--he
had every possible advantage, and yet
fell into the hands of Houston. The
achievement will be looked upon with
amazement and admiration by future
generations and, if the present age
has had its credulity taxed TO believe
the story, posterity will scarcely give
it credence.
The first time that ever saw Hous-
ton, was, think in the year $780,
AS | was standing at the corner Of
College street, Nashville, Tennessee,
with friend, a fine looking man DASH
ed by us.
"NIounted upon a hot and fiery steed,
Which his aspiring rider seemed TO know
and there was something so command.
ing in his person, that was induced to
inquire his name.
That, said my friend, is Maj Hous-
ton-a young man of great promise
who is rapidly rising in .ppblic favor.
He is brave as he is bold-has fought
CALAMITY with Gen. Jackson, and in
the lapse of a few years will be Gov.
ernor of Tennessee. do not know
that | ever saw more splendid man
than Houston was at that period.
From my friend, | learned that Maj.
Houston was originally carpenter,
but soon quit the profession, and com.
menced the study of law, politics, and
arms. To the latter science he was
most enthusiastically devoted /; but as
war was now at an end, he confined
himself to politics and law. Soon af.
ter this period he was elected to Con-
gress and as member of the House
Of Representatives held a commanding
position. His popularity was steady
and rapid in its increase, and the year
1928 found him Governor OF the State
of Tennessee. In the wars Of 1916
II, with the Seminoles and Creeks,
he distinguished himself as gallant
soldier and at the celebrated battle
Of the Horseshoe, he was badly woun-
ded in the arm which forever disabled
him. In the year 1926, having whilst
in debate, animadverted with much Sc
verify on the removal of Mr.. Curry
from the Post Office, al Nashville and
the appointment of Mr.. J. p. Irwin, a
near relative of Mr.. Clay, he was chal-
lenged by that gentleman to mortal
combat. The parties met in Kentucky
Irwin was shot and badly wounded
and though no exceptions were ia
ken torhe mode in which Houston con
Quoted himself on the occasion, an
Indictment was obtained against him
for political effect as he alledgcd, as
he was at that time a candidate for the
office of Governor of Tennessee.
On the Goth of February, 1928,
whilst holding the Office of Chief Ma
| oistrate of Tennessee, he challenged
Chapman Johnson, of Virginia, to the
field, and the invitation was declined.
At the Virginia Convention of that
wear, Mr.. Johnson reported an address
| to the people of Virginia, recommend.
ing tho election of Mr.. Clay, and in
that address, those who had participa-
ted in the battle ofthe Horseshoe, as
Governor Houston understood it, were
treated with great severity. As one OF
the actors in that battle, Gov. Houston
demanded redress from Mr.. Johnson {;
in reply to which that gentleman re-
Piled that the address was the produc-
ton ola convention oftwo hundred, d
he could not consider himselfpersonal"
lily responsible for the acts OF that
body.
On the 10 day of April, 1928, Gov.
Houston, formally resigned the ONCE
Of Governor of Tennessee, and abjured
| the State. Assuming the garb Of an
Indian, he departed for the remote
scenes of Arkansas, and resolved to
spend his days in perpetual exile. His
letter of resignation to Mr. speaker
Call, is one Of the most beautiful pro-
ductons ofthe kind now in existence.
At the time he resigned the robes OF
office he had but just been married 10
beautiful woman, one of the most
respectable ladies of Tennessee. !hey
had not been married but few days.
or weeks at least, before the lady re-
pudiated her allegiance to her lord q
claimed the protection of her parents
The causes that led TO the separation
= \ Ia