Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-04-11
Deposition Of Sam Houston.

The circumstances attending the deposition
of Sam Houston, as Governor of Texas, were
quite dramatic, and In some respects ludcrous
and comical. The convention of Texas, called
by the loud voice of the people against the de-
Dunciati0ns ond opposition of Gov. Houston,
having passed the act of secession, and accepted
and ratified the Constitution Of the Confederate
States, prescribed form of oath to be taken by
all the State oflicers. This oath included .
renunciation Of all allegiance to all foreign
powers, and especially to the Government Of
the United States, and declaration Of fidelity
TO the Constitution of the Confederate States -
When the oath was proposed to Gov. Houston,
ne peremtorily refused to take 1t; whereupon
the convention declared the office OF Governor
vacant, and Lieutenant Governor Clark, under
the Constitution, having taken the prescribed
oath, succeeded to the office. Gov. Clark was
not slow in entering upon the Gubernatorial
functions, and proceeding to the Governors
office, assumed the chair and entered upon the
duties of the Office. By and by, the deposed
Governor came hobbling to his ofice-old Sans
San Jacinto wound having broken out afresh, as
it always does on occasions of political trial.
PerceiyingGov. Clark occupying The chair, Old
Sam addressed him:
"Well, Governor Clark" giving great en-
phasis to the title, 'you are an early riser"
eyes, GeneTaL," replied the Governor, with
great stress upon the military title of his pre-.
decessor, ~ am illustrating the old maxim,
the early bird gathers the w0rm."'
"Well, Governor Clark, hope you will fiud
il an easier seat than have foundit
"l'll endeavor to make it 80, General, by con
forming to the clearly expressed will Of the
people of Texas F."
The General, having brought large lunch.
basket with him, proceeded to put up numer-
Gus little articles of private property, and to
stow them away very carefully. Catching his
loot in hole in the carpet and stumbling, the
General suggested to Governor Clark that the
new Government ought to afford new carpet
for the Governors office, whereupon the Gov.
ernor remarked that the Executive of Texas
could get along very well without carpet
Approaching the washstand, the General called
the attention OF Governor Clark to two pieces of
soap-one, the CASTLE soap, was his own private
property; and the other, a perfumed article,
was the property of the State, and added
"GOvernor, your hands will require the very
frequent use Of this cleansing article;" where
upon Gov. Clark, pointing to the washbowl,
which was full of very black and dirty water, re-
marked: General, suppose that is the bowl
in which you washed your hands before leaving
the office"
Having gathered up all hisduds, old Sam made
little farewell speech, very much in the style
OF Cardinal Wolsey, declaring his conviction
that, as in the past, the time would soon come
when Texas would call him from his retirement,
and he hoped Governor Clark would be able to
give as good an account of his stewardship as he
could now render. Hating at the door, the
General made profound bow, and with an air
of elaborate.dignity, said: "Good day, Governor
Clark. ~ "Good day, General Houston )" was
the Governors response. Aud thus the "Hero
of San Jacinto" concluded his political career!
IN o. Delta. t