The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-08-27
Biographical.
Gen. Sam uOustOn-His Public Career

Occasional writes from Washington to
the Philadelphia Press:
just at the time when it was believed that
the star of Sam Houston. of Texas. was pas.
sing rapidly from the political firmament,
and losing its lustre before the blaze of other
lnnnarIes; while yet the accents of his or
namenral farewell speech to the American
Senate linger in our ears. the news from his
own State comes in upon us that he has been
elected Governor of Texas, after an animated
contest beating the regular democratic ticket
by sigma majority. Here, now, is another
man whose experience may be ga id strikingy
to illustrate American character, and upon
whose eventful life it is profitable and pleasing
to dwell. century hence our chi!dren's
children will read of Sam Houston as to-day
we read of John Smith, who was rescued
from the Indian faggot by the Christiansed
maiden, Pocahontas.
1t is rare to read the life of any one man
so crowned with political honors, and so
identified with political rcverscs and r-
umphS. If your readers will recolcct that
sam Houston began his early lie among the
Cherokee Indians: that directly after that
he was clerk and county auditor in Tennessee:
that he kept school; that in 1873 he enlisted
IN The army and served under Gen. jackson
N the Greek var; that he was wounded and
rose to the rank of lieutenant in that war
that he studied law in Nashville. that he
served from 1923 to 1927 as a member of the
National House of Representatives from
tennessee that he was two years the Gov
ornor of that State: that he resigned that
Office went back and renewed his residence
among the Cherokecs in Arkansas: that he
went to Washington to protect the aborirncs
from fraud and returned to them disguised
with his little success : that he went to
Texas on visit. was elected Il member of
the convention to form State, constitution
prior TO the admission of that State into the
Mexican Union that he headed the disatlyc.
ton growing out Of the rrjecti ion of the CON
stltution, by Santa Anna that he assisted
in arousing the Texans to arms that he was
elected the commanded in chief of the troops:
that he conducted the war vigorc uslv, and
brought it to a successful terminal ton at the
battle OF San Jaclnto; that he effected treaty
acknowledging the independence of Texas
that he was elected first president of the
republic: that he then became a member of
the Texan congress, and was again elected
president of Texas that he contributed
greatly to the annexation of Texas to the
United States; and that, in 1911, when
Texas came INTO the American Union. he was
elected Senator in Congress of which body
he served until March last retiring from it
to begin new round of Offices as Governor
OF his State Il say, ifyour readers will cast
their eyes back over this marvellous record,
1t will be difficult to induce them to believe
that Sam Houston was but Sixiy-siX wears of
age on the second Of March last-tcing a
younger man than the President of the United
States.
Ifyou could see him as saw him. shortly
before he made his farewell speech in the
Senate, which, like the farewell speeches Of
some other great actors in politics and the
drama, was, as the result has shown, intended
to be but the advertisement Of a new engage.
ment. you would have been impressed by his
line bearing, his now-whte.rutllcd shirt, his
diamond decorated digts, and his vigorous,
satcSmanlike appearance. You would not
ask why it is that Sam Houston is enabled
to point to an almost irIesistably successful
career. lie is not man OF learning or ex-
tended information he is vain to a fault
fond Of dress and show :; a superficial logician:
land no man is so ready to admit these ele.
mentS of his character as himself; and yet
he has won because Of his msiinctire lore of
The tuM, his contempt for w.earning and
lawyers, his horror of distractions, and not
the least of all, his undoubted courage and
patriotism.
If the life of this man could be written can
d'aore by some Darlington Macaulay, who
would bring out its strong features and con.
ccal none OF the little defects which give
point to his character as furnishing contrasts
to his merits, it would constitute q volume
moro interesting than that of the famous
French lion-killers whose narratives, few
years ago, set the literary world wild with
speculations.