Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1858-07-17

slant and laborlous practice. SO constant an
lardaous. indeed, was his practice, that, in Ia
h ter years, he was prevented entirely from keep
y Ing up the ordinary course OF reading pursue,
II by most lawyers; bun this was supplied b,
y his most extraordinary memory. Every law
. yer who knew him well, will bear witness tha
/, he never forgot case or principle which wa
y decided in Court where he practiced. Blu
the chief elements of his success az lawyer
y as they were also the controlling features unt
crowning ornaments Of his whole character
were his candor and ingenuousness, His in
fluence with juries was overpoweting, because
their confidence in the man was implicit
His intercourse with his brethcren of the Bal
; was most high,soned and courteous. II was
, proverbial among the profession that every
young lawyer loved hm. Whoever had him
for an adversary, had no fears of losing his
cause by the exercise Of technical, or dis
honorable or petlifogging advantage.
In the year lS44 General Henderson and
Col. lsa,c VanZandt were sentas special mes
sengers, from the Republic of Texas to the
IGovernment OF the United States at Wash
ington, to negotiate treaty for the anncxa-
ton of Texas to the United States. They
found no difficulty in agreeing with Mr.. CAL
a warm friend OF Texas, upon treaty but it
was afterwards rejected BY Congress. Subse-
quenty, in lS45, the Resolutions of Annexa-
ton were passed, and in the spring of that
year, Gen. Henderson was elected a member
FOR San Augustine county, of the Convention
which formed the Constitution of the State Of
Texas. He was one of the Leading members
| pf that body generally conceded to have been
the ablest, politically, which has ever assem-
blrl in Texas. In the winter of the same
year he was elected Governor Of The State
While Governor, the war with Mexico occur
red and ne took command of the forces raised
by Texas, and led, in person, one Of the Tex.
as Regiments at the final charge on the third
day Of the battle Of Monterey He was ap-
pointed by General Taylor one of the Com.
missioncrs to negotiate with the Mexican Com.
mapder, General Ampuda, for the surrender
of Monterey, and was rewarded by Congress
with sword for his gallant services at that
battle.
After retiring from the Gubernatorial Chair,
Gen. Henderson had no further official con-
neclion with public life, until, after the death
Of his early friend, conpatriot and partner, the
lamented Rusk, he was called by the unan-
nous voice of his fellow.ciizens to the Scn.
ate of the Unlicd States. Soon after his cleo
| tIou, his health became SO much impaired ns
10 create all apprehension in the minds OF his
friends, that he would not long be able to serve
his country in the new and honorable position
TO which she had assghed him. Though net
wholly unfteprepared for the annodncehieni Of
his death. they are yet filled with gloom and
regret, in knowing that q statesman OF such
commanding talent, and daSmun Of aogencrons
Ii national politics, Gen. henderson has
always acted with the great Democratic party,
which had its origin with Mr.. Jefferson. He
was however, an ardent and devoted friend oil
the South ard always believed that in the So
called compromises which have from time 10
time taken place in national legislation with
reference to the s,ibIec Of slavery, the South
lost and the North obtained All advantage
He was generally opposed to all OF them
Willis He was empllatically Southern ltiihn
land States Rights Democrat, he desired al
30 to see The Union, under the Constitution,
Iperpe,uated through all coming time. lie /
was never disunionist for. disunion sake
He never desired i as an otject-he may
have contemplated Il as result. ..
The canlor and sincerity which. we have |
already mentioned as his eminent 1haracterls-
tics, controlled his conduct in political life as
elsewhere. He scorned the treachery and
double-dealing Of POLITICAL intrigue. wei
doubt If any public man ever easabljsheed
higher character for integrity aud firmness
than he. And it was the confidence inspired
by these elements, which caused such loud
spoken and uninistakable manifestations from
the masses of the people Of Texas in his fa-
vor, after the melancholy and un'imely death
of Gen. Rusk.
Gen. Henderson was distinguished for ex-
traordinary vigor of mind, and remarkable
correctness of judgment His perceptions
were quick. and his conclusions natural and
regular, but not hasty IN his speeches,
whether at the bar orbefore public assemblies,
he was always PRACTICAL He spoke of what
The people understood always to attain an OBJ
ject, and never fai ed to impress his hearers
with the belief that he was hrmly convinced
of the truth of what he was saying. His
eloquence was the eloquence OF truth, and
hence, was most powerful and Overwhelming.
OF the personal qualities of Gen. Hendef'
son, it is superfuous TO speak, TO those who
were his neighbors for sixteen years. we 90
not believe man can be found in San Angus
tine county, who will deny that he was benev.
olent, noble, disinterested, and public splrl-
ted and useful citizen. We could write down,
as within our own knowledge; many instances
of young men whom he has encouraged, and
assisted TO build up, and of many more whom
he has tried to encourge, bit who have wasted
his kindness and trifed with bis admonitians.
No poor man ever turned away from Hender-
son unTeleved, nor did distress ever appeal to
him IN vain for sympathy or assistance. 1t is
well known throughout The region Of his pfac-
tice, that no man or woman who had a meri-
torious case, and was unable TO pay for his
rrsaIfessinral sarricaS erer annlied for them