Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-02

First Day of Spring--Business Reviving-lSda's
Address-Ihe Men City Gover1me,a-iSite for
the Government Buildings, dc.
BALTIMORE, March l, 1856.
The first day of spring has been bright and beau
tiful and the change in the weather seems to
give start to business, which, after the long
sons of dullness and depression, is most crafty
ing, especially to the working men, who have SUI.
city. The number of mechanics out of employ
ment during the past two months is estimated at
from 5000 to 1000.
General Sam Houston delivered his lecture on
Texas this evening at the Mechanics Institute.
The attendance was large and respectable, and
the lecture was listened to with much interest. He
proceeded to give a history of the settlement Of
Texas, previous to the revolution, with all the OPP
pressive measures adopted by Mexico, which led
to the revolution. The lecturer alluded to the
seige Of San Antonio and the massacre of 1871 men,
Only two, said he, escaped the slaughter, and
those were the wife and child of an officer who had
persisted in the Alamo. He next came to the bat
tie of San Jacinto, and the events preceding it.
In describing the battle he spoke as follows
"The war cry of the Texans, Remember the
Alamo was raised by them at the commence
ment Of the contest, and it inspired them with a
terrible courage. II was about three o'clock in the
day when the melee bagan. The charge and the
onset were fearful the firing of artillery, the dis
charge of the musketry, and the carnage was awful
The Texans, after firing their guns, seized them by
the barrels using them like clubs, and fell on the
enemy with desperation which nothing could re-
sist. They closed in with them, and when this
weapon could no longer be welded, they resorted
10 the bowie, and terrible hand-to-hand combat
ensued. After fierce struggle rarely equaled,
and in which they fought against vastly superior
numbers, they achieved a complete victory. OF
the enemy, fourteen hundred were killed, while the
Texans lost only two men, one of whom was killed
in the battle, and the other in the pursuit The
Mexcans who aed were embodied under General
Almonte who Is at present Minister of his govern
ment at Washington. Santa Anna was among the
prisoners taken and although he was not entitled
to mercy at our hands, in consequence of his
massacre of our brethren at Alamo and Goliad he
was spared. In this the brave Texans displayed
true magnanimity, and redeemed their character in
the eyes Of Christendom, from the imputations
which had been cast upon IL. 1t was supposed
that Texas was peopled by rascals from every part
Of the United States and they therefore considered
ii necessary to show, by their conduct in this in
stance that they not quite SO bad rs was sup
posed This alluson Of the General to the charac-
Of the settlers in Texas received with roars
Of aughter.)
AFTER accomplishing their independence, said
General Houston in conclusion, the people set
about annexing Texas to the United States, and
may say that she has no reason to repent of the
step she has taken mp to this time, though / do
think there Is little more wrangling in the coun-
try now then there would have been in Texas take
IL as whole. Laughter.] / hope that that fra
ternal feeling which brought us into the Union will
be continued forever. Texas did not annex her
self TO the South, neither did she herself to
the North. Enthusiastic applause. No, she an
nexed herself to the Union, renewed applause,
the whole Union, and nothing but the Union.
Long continued applause II she was among the
last to come into the Union, take my word for IL,
amidst all the agitation which may take place
amidst the fanaticism and disunion which may
threaten the country, Texas would be the last to
leave it. and the first to defend IL when dangers
threaten" Renewed applause, in the midst Of
which the lecturer resumed his seat.
Three cheers we're here given for Gen. Houston,
which were followed by three more, after which
the audience dispersed
The newly-appointed city officers all entered on
their duties to-day, and the American city gov
eminent is now fully organized. Now that the Of
fees are all disposed Of union, harmony, and good