Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1851-05-28
SCRAPS FROM HISTORY.
Sam Houston and Felix Huston.
Or the Struggle Of VIII, and The Contest of
Elo0uence.

It was in the winter of 1867, and the
army of Texas lay encamped in beautiful
prairie on the banks of the Ia Baca. The
enemy had been driven beyond the Rio
Grande, and the clone star" shone in peace
full triumph over the newborn Rerublic.-
But, although the clouds Of s ariisf for the
time disappeared, new and fearful difficult
ties presented themselves, to obstruct and
retard thy effective establishment of civil
government. The wild and unsettled con.
dition of Texas, produced by her alternate
struggles with the Msxicans at one time,
and with the Indians at another, has foster
ed in the hearts of her people passion for
war, and distsste for the calm and labori.
Gus pursuits Of civil life. Ambitious and
Ichivslric sdventurers from the States had
rallied around her standard, painting with
impatience for an opportunity to render
some signal service to the young Republic,
and to gain place upon the bright pages
of her history. Nor were those who court.
ed the smiles Of fortune on the plains Of
Texas slone distinguished for reckless dar-
ing and fiery courage, for in proportion to
her population. no part of the world con.
tanned greater amount of cultivated in
tellect and splendid requirement. Among
the many who would have been superior
men 10 any country, may be named As,in,
Burnet, Lamar, Rusk, Felix Houston, the
two Wbsrtcns, Henderson, Archer, and q
host Of others; each and every one seeking
to work out some splendid destiny, ,snd each
aspiring to the leadership in the sf'ars Of
Texas. But there was another spirit upon
the stage, whose vast and comprehensive
mind, and infexible will, raised him high
above all competitors,and caused him to be
recognized by the masses as the Father Of
Texss-thst man was Sam Houston. But
this very recognition on the part oftIe peo-
pie arrsyed against him ny early ell of tine as
Piring talent of the country; and Of all the
public men already named, Rnsk alone re-
tnsined his friend, and he alone of them all
has continued to possess the confidence Of
the Texans.
Having been elevated to the presidential
chair by an overwhelming vote, Houston
bent the energies Of his mind to securing
moral weight and power to the civil govern
ment, aud to the developement Of the re-
sources Of Texas. But in country where
war was not only pastime and delight, but
looked to as the means of employment, BY
a large body Of the people, and where the
steel and the bullet were the only recogni-
zed arbiters ofdisputes, the task that H ous-
ton had allotted 70 himself was one of no
easy performance.
The soldiers Of San Jacinto, had retired
from the service, and the army Of Texas,
less than three thousand strong was compo-
sed Of ardent and youthful volunteers from
every part of the American Union.
AS has been said, tho main army, was in
camp on the La Baca, and was under the
command of Gen. Felix Houston. This
gentleman lawyer from Mississippi,
possessed ofereat wealth, and standing at
the head of bis profession in that State
Early in the summer of 1886, he equipped
at his own expense, and mar ched TO Texas,
a fine body Of cavalry; himself, being the
commander, and soon after his arrival in
Texas, he was made Brigadier General, land
given the command of the troops in the
field. He was soldier by nature, and as
such, his character was fashioned after that
of Anthony Wayne. But his ambition was
as selfish and unboundeG, as his courage
was desperate; and in thinking of himself,
he forgot to think of the well being of I ex-
as. He soon became the fsvorite and al.
most the idol of the army; and the soldiers
talked of "OM Felr," as the soldiers of
the old army had talked of"OM Sam"
Possessed of burning eloquence, but
seldom equalled, Felix Houston determined
to fuse the fire ofhis own mad ambition into
the hearts of his soldiers, and thus mould
them to his will. In fur,herance ofthis de-
sign, it was his habit, once or twice week
during the intervals Of drill, to harrangue
them in strains of thrilling and impassioned
eloquence. In scathing invective he would
recount the many wrongs inflicted upon
Texas, by the government of Mexico. The
smoulderiog ruins of the Alamo-the CASH
ed and mangled remains of Travis and of
Tanning, and their martyred comrades, (of
Goliad and Alamo, were presented to their
in colors so dark and horribly
startling that one wild scream for ven-
geance would burst forth from the madden
cd soldiery. Then with a subtleness which
seemed opposed to the vehemence of his
nature, he would deal death blows al HSam