Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-03-21

turn away--aud always to weep; while the
vision of all others most strongly suggestive
of innocence, Eden, aud perfect joy the VI
sion of children al play-nearly drove him
mad with solrow Had he lett far behind
him, in his own native land, little bright
haired, sweet Tipped pratlers, who called him
father Or had he been crossed in the ag-
onies of hopeless love? Such were the ques-
lions many asked, but none could answer
A saw him miserable, but none could be-
lieve him criminal. Bur still, whenever
duty, benevolence, or business called, the
brave man would battle with his despair,
and conquer all the ghosts of memory, by
sheer onnipoIence of will. Then he could
mingle with crowis--the widest and witt.
est OF all-and despatch business 10 a week,
that might have engaged others for months
His invariabe and wonderful success excited
the jealousies Of enemies, and Col. Hun
ter sent him challenge TO mortal combat.
Baker fogged most unmercifully with his
fists first the second and then the principal
Such was the trial of his courage il was
the only attempt ever made 10 bully him off
the track.
His prosperity continually increased his
fees were alone 10 he reckoned by thousands,
and not less Than a square league of Texan
soil. Besides, he turned speculator himself,
and within three years was the greatest land
owner in the State.
But cloud had long been gathering on
the heights Of the plateau OF Anahuac, and
Mossley Baker was the first to foresee that
it was destined TO break in whirlwinds of
fire and storin-rain of blood on the green.
cry oil The prairies. He uttered the first bold
appeal, calling nation to arms, at meet
ing of the citizens of San Felipe, The second
day Of June, 1885 aud the first resolutions
adopted in this crisis was the progeny of his
brain and the birth of his pen. Indeed. he
had halt made the circui; of Texas, thunder
ing the war-crv-'Death to the tyrant of the
table land! Liberty for the people of the
prairie Independence n-hefore the great
popular chiefs, Houston, Rusk, Henderson,
and Archer had unsealed their lips by sim
gle address
When Gen. Cos was informed of Bakers
activity, an order was forthwith issued for
his arrest as a traitor but ere the mandate
could reach its destination, all true Texans
had become traitors. So contagious thing
is example!
In brief space the campaign opened and
Baker volunteered as private, refusing all
solicitations TO accepr the highest Office of
command. He was ~ all the grand bloody
battles Of the war. On the retreat of Hous-
toms army, he was stationed nj The head OF a
guard of eighty men to protect the crossing
of the Brazos. which he made good against
the whole Mexican host, led on by Santa
Anna in person
And finally, TO crown all, Moseley Bakers
shone the brightest blade through the sui
phurous smoke and tire of San Jacinto.
At the close of the campaign he was elect
ed TO Congress and AT the first session OF
Congress he was elected brigadier general.
But stIll occasionally, the olt gloom, the in
finite regret, would come back again on
his soul, impressing his face with a picture
OF measureIess sorrow. In of these fits
of rayless me elancholy, lie suddenly rose one
day, in his place on the floor OF Congress,
and startled every member by the strange
announcement-'Mr. Speaker, am a crimi-
nal, and a pentent also f; and am now 60
ing to confess my fault =
Every eye was upon him and every ear
was wide openfor he had never been know IL
before TO speak of himself
He continued IL was once a popular
leader in the State of Alabama, and, while IA
member of the legislature, 10 save the for
tune of friend, was persuaded TO nse my
! PitbiiCSCu Us iIlCiubti. uiIuCi sDcCidi oidi
ute 10 borrow twenty thousand dollars out ui
the bank. My friend failed 10 repay IL, and
was aroused oil fraud, dlsgraced, and riI-
ined. Forced to fly my country, torsake INV
beloved family, and wander forth an exile
like second Cain, found an asylum ir
your beautiful land. But have since lived
on the light of single hope-the hope to
he enabled TO pay that debt and be Reunited
once more without dshonor TO my wife ant
children. IL was for this alone that ldboret
aud suffered, as you are all The witnesses
Aud now, by the mercy of God The A;migh
ty, my hope Is realized. ! am able TO pa,
that debt and then shall rejoln my beloved
ones, and spend my last days in peaceful re
tlrement. MIR. Speaker, | shall never aenn
seek public office or human glory and iron
This moment resign my rights aud dutie
oi, this floor
And then, as if relieved Of that perilou
stuff which had so long weighed upon hi
heart, he left the ball with smile of seren,
and brilliant tranquility. This occurred or
the 9th of March, 1888, and on the ION, b,
addressed a letter 10 the President of th,
Bank of Alabaua, Offering to liquidate ever,
claim against him. The bank sent on al
agent in the person of Joel White, to ahun
Baker paid twcnty-oue thousand dollars
principal, eight thousand tor interest, ant
twelve hundred as damages, making in al
more than thirty thousand dollars yet leav
ing him, nevertheless, the richest man il
Texus.
On the return of Mr.. White, the banI
passed highly complimentary resolutions il
favor of Gen. Baker, and then his fami
joined him in his new home, now fixed il
the city of Houston, and the old gloom o
the thunder-cloud forever left his brow
Alas it had already flung It's shadows ther
too long. His spirit from profound melan
choly, vaulted into the other extreme; h
became a passionate enthusiast and fer
mystic, protesting, through the medium o
religious magnetism, TO hold direct connii
MON with the spirits of another world IL
was licensed ms a Methods, preacher, ant
established a pious newspaper, which hi
great wealth enabled him 10 distribute graft
among the poor. Its columns teemed most
ly, however, with reported cases OF religion
magnetism ; and strange TO say, this solemn
farce was being enacted in the wild woods o
Texas, at the identical time when Davis, 'th,
Poughkepsie Seer was amusing the city o
New York with his superb hoax!
Baker and Davis seem to have made tn,
tour Of the spiri,.land during the same
month, and Baker says they met not a
itiends, but as irreconciIable foes. Davis be
ing under the influence Of diabolical vision
while he had a full flow of the ether angeii
cal! Such was the answer given in his pa
per 10 Davis's unirerceiian book
But last summer saw the end of this ex
traor.linary man, 50 great alike in hi
strength and weaknesses. He fell beneaii
the stroke of cholera, the conqueror of lh'
world.
Poor Baker He has solved at length III,