Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-05-13
Sam Houston and felix HoHStSA, Or the struggle of wilI, and tae Contest
 of Eiouaeuce.


 banks Of the La Baca. The enemy had been driven beyond the Rio GraRde, and the " lone star "shone m peaceful triumph over the new born Republic. But, although the clouds of war had for the time disappeared, and fearful difficulties presented themselves, to obstruct and retard the effective tsblishment of civil goveraaaeat The wild and unsettled condition of Texas, produced by her al ternate struggles with the Mexicans at one time. aud wilk the Indians at another. had foStcrc in the hearts Of has people passion for war. and a dis tasle for the calm and lab1rlouS pursuits of civil live. Ambitious and chyalric adven4arers from the States had rallied around her standard, panting with impotence Tor an opportunity to render some signal service tY the young Republis and 10 gain place upon the bright pages of her history. Nor were those who c0ufteti the smiles of fortune on the plains of Texas alone distinguished for reek- less dan1g and fiery courage, for m proportion to her population, no part of the world contained greater amouat of cultivated intellect and Spen- did requirement. Among the many who would have been superior men III any country, may be named Austin. Burnet Lamar, Rusk. Felix Illus ton the two WhartonS, Henderson, Archer, and host of others; each and every one seeking 10 work out some splendid destiny, and each aspiring 10 the leadership in the affairs of Texas. But there was another spirit upon the stage, whose vast and con- prehensve mind, and inaexihle will. raised hlm high above all competitors, and caused him to be recognized by the masses aS the Father of Texas that man was Sam Houston. But this very re- cognftion on the part of the people arrayed against him nearly all of tue aspiring talent of the coun. try; and ot all the public men already named, Rask alone remained his friend, and he aloae of them all has continued 10 possess the confidence of the Texans.
 Having been elevated to the presidential chair by an overwhelming vote, Houston bent the ener- gieS of hls mind 10 securing moral weight and pow eE tO the cIyIl government and to the development of the resources of Texas. But in q country where was not only pass time and delight but looked to as the means of employment, by large body of the people and where the steel and the bullet were the only recognized arbiterS of disputes, the task that Houston had allotted to himself was one of no easy performance.
 The soldiers of San Jacinto, had retired from the service an the army of Texas, less than three thousand strong was composed of ardent and youth- ful volunteers from every part of the American Union.
 As has been said, the main army, was in camp on the La Baca, and was under the command of Gen Felix Houston. This gentleman was a law yer from Mississippi, possessed ef great wealth, and standing at the head of his profession in that State Early m the summer of 1S36, Ire equipped at his own expense, and marched to Texas, fine body of cavalry; himself. being the commander and soon after his arrival in Texas. he was madeBrigadier General, and gwen the command of the troops in the field. He was a soldier by nature and IS sueh, -his character was fashioned after that Of Anthony Wayne. But his ambition was as selfish and Rn- bounded, as his courage was desperate; and in thinking of himself he forgot 10 think of the well being of Texas. He soon became the favorte and almost the idol of the army; and the soldiers talked of " Old Felir," as the soldiers of the old army had talked of " Old Sam"
 Possessed of a burning eloQuence, but seldom equalled Felix Huston determined to fuse the fire of his own mad ambition into the hearts of his sol dierS, and thus mould them to his will. In fur therance of this design, 1t his habit, once or twice week during the intervals of drill, to har- angue them in straIns of thrilling and impassioAed In d count the many wrongs inflicted upon Texas, by the government of Mexico. The Smouldering ruins of the Alam0-the gashed and mangled remains of Travis and of Tanning, and their martyred com radeS, lof Goad and Alamo were presented to tbeir imaginationS in eolorS so dark and horribly startling that one wild scream for vengeance would burst forth from the maddened soldiery. Then with sublleness which seemed opposed 10 the vehemence of his nature, he would deal death blows at ' Sam Houston and his CoagresS" with out directly mentioning either, until uiurnurs of diScontent and threats ot revolt agalnSt the gov ernment spread themselves throughout the col umn. Then modulatlng hlS voice m tones of sweetest melody, he would carry back their mem orieS to their native homes, and tell them that their grey hared sireS and far of friends expected every one of them to perform some exploit m arms, of which they might feel justly proud. And then turning his eagle glance towards the Rio Gtande, with his long arm pointing to the wes. like the hand of destiny, he would exclaim, with the ear- ionS yolce-yoAdeF IS ta> ro1d Iriaiea Ieafs Co geance. to glory, Gad 10 faRne.
 As the explosion of gunpowdeT follows the ap- phcaton of the match, restless and fiery dlscontent the necessary consequence resulting from these orationS. The common theme of con yeTSatIon at the mess and at the watch fire, was the propIiety of the army marching against Col um- bia-then the capital of Texas--dlSbanding the Congress, and taking possession of the government The conquest Of Mexico, was considered as the cer- tam result which would follow the invasion of that country. And thus, the greater part of tue army were prepared to overthrow the GoyesnmeHr, assume the temporary reins Of power, and then abandon Texas to invade Mexico.
 There was but one mind in Texas sufficiently conpre henSiyes but tcstl sufficiently powerful to check and counteract the designs of Felix Illus ton That mind Gai acili, formed part of the eharac fer of Sam Houston.
 It on a bright and beautiful afternoon in that southern winter, when Felix Huston had just concluded one of his most thrilling and impassion cd addresses, and the acclanatons of soldiers were yet reSounding over the prairie, when a single hoFSeman was deserted coming forward at headong speed, from the direction of the NaYidad. The rapidtv of lis pace, and the striking peculariy of hiS bearing and costume. caused all eyes to be turned towards the coming stranger. With TiAe in one hand and the feins fnnly grasped in the other he sat on his horse with that wild grace and dalng skill peculiar to the Tasiget oi Texas.-- Ills long brown haT flowed caEeieSsy upon hls shoulders. and the broaa bTim of his white hat was blown back exposing to the view, his bold high forehead, and hiS eye of dauntless and pier eng blue.
 No oae who had ever listened to a fecounsai of tke hasrbreadth escapes and desperate exploits of ' Ute Spy esapaay." and had heard perSoaai les erp,ion 0f its leader. required be told tha, the coming horSemaa was Deal SniilA, THE sLEErlEss EYE" of the army of Texas. Without checking hs speed, he dashed up to within a few feet of Pelix Huston, when he came to a dead halt. and looking fuls m fhe fhnf abruptly said
 Sam HoGstOH has Aaltei foy tse aigh on Ae bIass of he Saridad, aad W,A 5e ia y1r eaag to- mmron,',
 Such was the first announcement to .he army of the approach of the President.
 For instant the blood maniled ilse bfo,v of Felix Huston, but he promptly replied ia hiad thnligh conItenux lant.--s lia k1ct rnd feu fhs