Washington telegraph., 1858-03-03
The Late Gen. Rusk.


ty, lamented alike in all sections of the
Union, we append a sketch OF his life
extracted from the speech Of his colleague,
Gen. Houston, on announcing his death
in the Senate:
Tie subject of this notice was born in
PeudletOn District, South Carolina. He
did not inherit the advantages Of fortune,
Of family, or Of patronage. lie was de-
sceuded from an Irish patriot, who was
east upon our shores in consequence OF
the troubles Uf 1871, in Ireland. lie in-
herited q holy love OF liberty from his
ancestors, and 1t was matured into patri-
otism for the benefit of his country. Al
ter struggling through the difficulties in-
cilent to limited means IN yOuth, he ac-
quired Il prJtessiJu-thc law. He rcmoy-
ca to the State Of Georgia, and there rose
rapidly To distinction in his profession. -
Alter years of exertiOn iu that State, and
after having connected himself with an
eslimable lady, he removed with his fam
lis to Texas in 1854. At that time, sir,
tie first emotions of revolution began to
agitate that distant region. lie was loyal
tO the institutions vi the country to which
he had migrated, until oppression became
intOierable. When the Texans rose a.
ole man, in resistance to a despot and
u-urper, he stepped forward, united with
his Ow-citizyAs, and engaged ia the per-
ilUus conflict Of the revolution. He WAS
not urgent for that event, but, like others,
he prepared himself to meet the occasion
wien it was unavoidable. la 1885, when
the enemy invaded Texas and took posses
siuu OF San Antonio, lac immediately
marched with force from Eastern Texas,
and rendered signal assistance To- General
Austin, then iu command of the Texas
forces. Whilst at san Antonio, he was
engaged IN various conflicts and encouu-
tcrs with the enemy, in which he demean-
ei himself with that chiyalry aud vIlor
which characterized him in all his martial
scenes. After that hc returned u his
family, but was soon elected to the con-
ycntion which, ia 1886, asserted the in
depeudeBce VI IeXas, at " asAIngt0u, ON
the BraZOs. In the Organization Of "A gov
yrumeut al iAtegiAt, he was electei by
that body As Secretary of War. lie con-
tiuued IN the Cabinet until the enemy
were advancing, anu the Texan army
falling back from the frontiers, and then,
unlike others who were fugitiycs from the
limits OF the United States. lac turned hi,
face to difficulty, and to the arny-Ae
identified himself with it, It's privatio ;,
It's suferiugs, its difficulties. lie cOutin-
ucd with 1t Ia the confidence Of the COM
mauler-in-cEiet, rendering all the aid in
his power tO the cause Of Texas aud Its
Independence. lie remained with the ar
my until after the capture Of Gen. Santa
Anna, the imperial ruler OF Mexico, when,
owing to the events which transpircd that
day, he was appointed to the command OF
the army of Texas. 1t is but just to his
memory to say that, on that occasion, he
commanded the left wing OF the Texan
army, aud surrounded the right wing vi
the enemy; rendering the rout aud vIcto-
~ more complete than they would other
Sjse have been.
lie continued in command Of the army
from April until October Of that year,
when the first constitutional government
was Organized at Columbia. on the BFazos.
lie was then called from the head of the
army 10 the post Of Secretary OF War
Tie remained in that position until the
circumstances Of his family required his
attention, when be resigned his place ; he
was subsequently called to the oifice Of
Secretary Of State, which lac declined, ow-
ing to the same causes. lie remained IN
private life until the close of 1897, when
he was elected to the Legislature, and du-
hing that session he WAS elected TO the
Chief Justieeship Of the Republic. lie
adorned that position until 1910, when
he again resigned oihce and retired to the
walks OF private life and to the pursuit Of
his profession Difficulties, however, soon
arose in relation to Indian troubles, in
which he was always conspicuous, the
most efficient in conflict, the foremost in
council, leader in danger, an adviser
with wisdom at all times. In 1913 pro-
visional force Was raised by action of the
Legislature, when he was again elected
Maior-General His action under this
appointment, however, was rendered un-
necessary on account of the proclaiming
of an armistice and suspension of HOSTILE
ties, which continued, though partially
interrupted, to be sure, until the time Of
annexation.
On the consummation Of that event, sir,
he was unanimously y elected by the Lcgis-
lature If Texas a member Of this body; he
was thrice elected, believe, ere his death.
Senators, you all know the position he oc-
cupied here You know the relations in
which you stood to him. You know his
high conservative principles You know
his manly and staunch advocacy of the
compromise of 1850. You know how
faithfully he adhered to every principle
that was conservative. You will recollect
that he was elected at the close of the last
session temporarily to the chair by a vote
Of the body, the very height of distinction
in Senator. In the full enjoyment OF
these high honors and privileges he was
taken from US. His fame is national, not
sectional His name belongs to history
it is hardly a theme for the culogist. lie