Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1850-10-02
Rise Of senator Rusk.

i Rise or SenatOr Ruaks
The tragedy of NacogdoGhes, and the roman
tic incidents which led 70 the Texan war Of In
dependence, find their parallel only in the 10
man history Of Lucretia and the elder Brutus. -
Juan Costa, was person Of great influence and
bravery iE the wild forests, but he fell under the
displeasure Of Santa Anna, and his minion Pedras
the commandant Of fNacogdoches, was sent to ar.
rest him. He arrested the father at his supper
table, attended by his only daughter--a young
girl Of surprising beauty and intelligence. He
loaded him with chains and csst him into prison,
notwithstanding her tears and entreaties. FL
nally he proposed to free the father If the daugh
ter would consent to sacrifice her innocence and
honor. She rejected the infamous proposition
with blow in the face, when the armed rufiian
swore horrible oath 10 execute his will on them
both. and then . . .
With dark eyes, fearless, CLASSY, fixed as those
Of q corpse, yet flashing double portion Of lum-
inous FIRE, she mounted horse and hurried away
wildly around the country. She halted at every
house, no matter whether Mexican or American
and rehearsed, in tones Of thrilling horror, her
fathers wrongs and her own. Alltimid nodes
ty, all weakness, had vanished from her tongue,
utterly consumed by the scorching thirst for ven
geance. She painted, in passions fiery language,
and with awful minuteness, the facts Of the
damning deed: she barred her virgin bosom, and
showed the livid marks Of the Tsyishers fingers
among the mazes Of those azure veins, along the
surface oi. that expanse Of snow, now so pollu-
ted and sOiled, but before pure As the CLEAN Of
an angels wing.
And still, wherever the beautiful maid wan.
dered, deafening yell of wrath and vengeance
rose up sglinst the tyrants. The people Of both
races and ali classes few to arms, appointing q
general rendezvous for the 24th Of June, at the
residence Of the absent and now imprisoned Juan
Costa.
It was there debated by the people, as TO the
mode Of attack. and who should be their leader,
but nothing being agreed on, the whole assem-
blage bid fair 10 break mp in confusion, when 4
tall and powerfully built stranger, who had just
entered Texas from the States. came forward and
addressed the multitude - follows:
81 am stranger, but am also man. and ]
owe my life, soul, body, health, happiness-ail
ali to womsn-my mother! And il turn
IN deaf ear TO the prayers Of an innocent wcssan,
asking nv aid against q villain, may both my
mother and my God curse me! ] 20 for one. and
should you ali stay behind alone TO fight Col
Pedras and his armed ravishers Of your wives
and daughtersi"
The speech was received with three tremend.
Gus cheers, and then general shout, that seem.
ed to shake the solid earth, uttered the first peal
Of the revolution. awe will 60! Death to the
Ityrsnisl Freedom for Texas, and the giant thall
be our leaderi"
And then for the first time, was heard in the
land Of the wild oak name destined to become
an echo 70 the pulsation Of al hearts--the name
of Thomas J. Rusk.
The next day he led his raw troops 10 the at
tacck Of Nacogdoches, and stormed every posi-
tion against immense odds, alter an assault oi
four hours, The carnage being dreadful on both
sides, and fortunately among the slain. was the
dead body Of the strocious Ferdinand Pedras.
Such was the debut Of Rusk in Texas, and
from that day his popularity has gone on steadily
increasing, without even transitory eclipse, OF
80 much a. cloud to dim its splendor. In vain
| for three years, Gen. Cos demanded his arrest
Mexico hod not soldiers enough to take him, sns
in 1856 he assisted to chase the last Of thes'
out Of the country. Afterwards, he amassed
fortune at the Texan bar, and was chosen on'
Of the first Senator'S Of the new State snnxed.-
place which he may hold for life. if he Wills 1t
Rusk is the only public man in Texas that ha'
never engaged in duel, and for this singl: rsa
son, 50 honorable to himself.-he never had
personal enemy in the world. To conclude, n
10 Titan in physical force, with the loving sou
of happy child. He 10 not distinguished D.
eloouenee Of speech, but his laugh 10 sometime
divine.-.the clear sing Of heart, sound to th
very centre.