The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-11-10
!. SAM HOUSTON AND HIS REpUB-

we = deemed it worthy" Well. we have read
IT, and do deem it worthy )" as we should sup,
pose The press generally of the country does. for
II has been most extensively abused, and that
would not have been the case, if the work had
oeen ,rorihtess To begin then II is a p,mph-
let copy of 2OS PIP. published by Burgess, S,riager
& Co, New York. prioted on beautiful type, and
illustrated with a superior life like miniature en-
craving of the Hero of San Jacinto, the statesman
and Savior of Texas.
The author has had excellent opportunities Of
gathering facts, we should Judge, of his subject.
from the minuteness of detail, with which he has
traced up the life of this astonishing man, frum
his infancy to the time he proudly occupied ks
seat in the Senate of the United States and all
this is done, without the least straining after
elect by the author, or WEAKNESS to the reader /;
the style of recital is simple and una ffected, yet
beautiful and striking, from the fact that the un-
aided exertions of the Hero, are wonderfully
made 10 carry along the author and The reader, as
they have placed himself upon The proudest pe-
deslal that can be occupied by man. The STYLE
OF the biographer is unexceplionable and the as
saults which have been made upon it, exhibit 10
our mind, a spirit of jealous envy against the au.
thor, or a unmanly hate towards the subject of the
Memoir, who, uneducated, and unaided by wealth
or Influence, has risen TO occupy one of the proud
est positions which we know on earth-won too
by the mere force of courage and wisdom in the
cabinet and the field, where both attributes. in his
eventful life, in both stations, were pe eminen,lv
necessary-tor in his struggle for the Indepen-
pence Of Texas. he met the most deadly and
traitorous foes in his cabinet and the field, which
alone could be overcome by his prudence and do
termlnailOn. Houston's is a life on which, we
like to dwell, and we hail. with pleasure, this
effort Of Mr.. Lester, TO bring him prominently
before his countrymen, that his history NAV be
known and appreciated. He cannot write Hous.
ton into the Presidency" says a portion of the
press-which we should not be surprised 10 learn
were under the control or influence of the friends
of those who are plainly spoken of as cowardly
knaves and traitors, that feared The gallant Hous-
ton, and endeavored TO sacrifice him whenever
opportunity offered hut who finding him succ, IS.
tui, in spite of their efforts, take every means To
rob him of his laurels. Whatever NAV be Hous.
tons future fate, he has proved himself a soldier,
an able statesman. a patriot, and an honest man.
We hope Mr.. Testers biogr ply of him will
have an extensive sale, as a matter of profit 10
the writer. and in order TO make the American
people better acquainted with one of their most re-
markable fellow citizens remarkable for honesty.
truth, and patriotism.
we make one extract from the work to show
with what perils Houston was surrounded when
he first occupied the Executive chair, as the first
President of Texas. He had, while commander
in chief, been continually thwarted by what was
called " The Government a Council chosen for
the emergency, who always fled as danger an
preached. and who left him to die on the battle
field of San Jacinto, after he won the battle, and
had hunted up the IS (ngitives,'' to put the desli.
MES of Texas in their hands-he had seen the
massacres of the Alamo and Goliad, produced by
the uniOrtunated but hot headed men who had
violated his orders, and he now found himself
President of the Republic, under the following
trying circumstances yet his foresight, cooIness
and determination, bore him trinmphantly through
all difficulties, and saved The Republic:
The Government was destitute of all the
ordinary means OF support. They had not a dol
lar, nor could loans he obtained. An army was
in the field, but they could not be supported
When Congress met at Houston, General Felix
f1ustnn, who commanded The army, hurried To
Inc place. lie had projected a grand campaign
against Matamoras. Every man v no felt iealon,
OF the Influence of the President joined in the
scheme The army now numbered over 2.4OO
men. The President foresaw the consequences of
these movements. There was no money in the
treasury, or means or currency, except promisso.
ny nOies, struck on common paper. was clear.
y impossible TO conduct a campaign. The Presi-
dent saw what the upshot of this matter would be
1t something were not done at once, aud he re-
sorted To a sagaciOus expedient. Col. Rodgers,
now left in command Of the army, had caused if
To be Understand that If Tho ynl,,o..o I.I $3.50.
get justice. he would march with them To the
seat nf Government, chasiise the President,
KICK Congress out ut doors. and give laws to
Texas"
" Al this crisis the President determined TO cut
the evil up by The roots. General Felix Huston
had occasionally INDUCED his men in what he
called a Sdturndtid, where murders had occurred
in consequence of the brutal ixloxication Of the
men. One evening, from intelligence uf what
was doing IN Congress (fUr he never visited The
House. except at the opening or close Of the SEES
siOn,) Houston directed the Secretary of War to
he ready 10. start the next morning, at two o'clock.
for the Camp. He handed him sealed orders. to
be opened in the Camp, and ordered him to 90
there with all pos bile dispatch. These orders
required The Secretary TO iurlough the army by
companies, until they were reduced 10 six hun
dred men. The first company was furlOughed to
march TO Dimit's Landing, on Mataqurda Bay
tie second TO the moth of The BrazOs the third
10 UaIvesiOn; and his process was continued till
The reduction was made. His object was to give
them an opportunity to get TO the United States
by water, and thus relieve The country from ap.
PTehensions. The furloughs given to The men
were unlimited, but they were liable To be 70.
called at any time by Proclamation and if thoy
did not report themselves in thirty days after the
Proclamation they were to be considered deserters,
and treated as such. Houston could not dlsband
the army, for there was nothing to pay them off
with; and he had been Taught a lesson by the at
tempt of General Washington to disband Inc army