The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-09-23
Rise Of Senator Ruslr.

The tragedy OF Nacogdocnes, ana lne TO-
maptic incidents which led 10 the Texan war
of Independence, find their parallel only in
the Roman history Of Lucfetia and the elder
Brutus. Juan Costa was person OF great
influence and bravery in the wild forests;
but he fell under the displeasure Of Santa
Anua, and his minion Pedras, the comman-
dant Of Nacogdoches, was sent to arrest him.
He arrested the athefa at his supper table,
attended by his only daughter-7a cir! Of sur.
prising beauty and intelligence. He loaded
kim with chains, and cast him into prison,
notwithstanding her tears and entreaties.
Finally he proposed to free the father if the
daughter would consent to sacrifice her In
nocence and honor. She rejected the infa-
nous proposition with blow in the face;
when the armed ruffian swore a horrible
oath to execute his will on them both and
lben So
With dark eyes, fearless, CLASSY, fixed as
those Of corpse, yet flashing double por-
ton of luminous fire, she mounted horse
and hurried away wildly around the country.
She halted at every house, no matter wheth-
er Mexican or American, and rehearsed, in
tones Of thrilling horror, her fathers wrongs
and her own. All tinid modesty, all weak
ness had vanished from her tongue, utterly
consumed by the scorching thirst of ven
geance. She painted in passions fiery Ian
guage, and with awful minuteness, the facts
of the damning deed; she barred her virgin
bosom and showed the livid marks Of the
ravishers fingers among the mazes Of those
azure veins along the surface Of that expanse
of snow, now SO polluted and soiled, but
before pure as. the gleam Of an angels
wings. if..., II
And still, wherever the beautiful maid
wandered, a deafening yell Of wrath and
| vengeance rose up against the tyrants. The
people Of both races and of all classes flew
4 to arms, appointing general rendezvous foi
4 the 25th Of June, at the residence Of the alb.
sent and now imprisoned Juan Costa.
1t was debated by the people as to the
mode Of attack; ald who should be theh
leader, but nothing being agreed on, the
whole assemblage bid fair to break UP in
confusion, when tall and powerfully built
stranger, who had Just entered Texas from
the States, came forward and addressed the
multitude as follows. ,,s
"Iam a stranger, but am also man
and owe my life, soul, body, health, hap,
piness--an-all to woman-my mother
And if ! turn deaf ear TO the prayers of ar
4 innocent woman asking my aid against ;
villain, may both my mother and my Goo
curse me! / go for one, and--should yol
all stay behind-alone to fight Col. Pedras
and his armed rayishers of your wives ant
daughtersp J.. ,.,., 1, 81.
i The speech was received with three tire
mendous cheers, and then a general shout
that seemed to shake the solid earth, uttered
, the first peal of the revolution. We vii
7 60. Death to the tyrants Freedom 70
J Texas, and the giant shall be our leader"
| And then for the first time, was heard il
the land Of the wild oak name destined t
4 lhecnme an echo 10 the ipplsatiop ofah hear
| the name OF Thomas j. Rusk. -,ft.
The next day he led his raw troops to th
attack of Nacogdoches, and 'stormed ever
, position against immense odds, after an as
sault Of four hours, the carnage being dread
{ full on both sides; and fortunately, anon
the slain was the dead body OF the attrociou
Fredinand Pedras ....
} such was the debut of Rusk in Texas
' andfrom that day his popularity has gon
: on steadily increasing, without even trar
e STORY eclipse, or SO much as cloud to dir
1 its splendor. In vain for three years Ger
Q Cos demanded his arrest. Mexico had ne
: soldiers enough to take him, and in l845--
4 he assisted 10 chase the last Of these out {
: the country. Afterwards he amassed TO
II tune at Texan bar, and was chosen one I
y the first Senators of the new State annexed
: place which he may hold for life if he viii
it. aa Ga dl
e Rusk is the only public man in Texas th'
: has never engaged in duel; and for th
singular reason, SO honorable to himself--f
e never had a personal enemy in the worl'
6 To conclude, he is Titan in physical fore
Q with the loving soul Of happy child. y
is not distinguished by eloquence of speec
l but his laugh is some times divine-the Gle
n ring Of a heart sound TO the very centre.
e / .i.f .4.e .tt IlfHEi ~ 5ll lr.f1H1 II