Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-04-11
Deposition Of Sam Houston.

The circumstances attending the deposit
ton of Sam Houston as Governor of Texas,
were quite dramatic, and in some respects
ludicrous and comical. The Convention of
Texas, called by the loud voice of the people
against the denunciations and opposition of
Gov. Houston, passed the act of secession.
and accepted and ratified the Constitution OF
the Confederate States. prescribed a form of
oath to be taken by the State officers. This
oath included a remuneration of all allegiance
to all foreign powers. aud especially TO the
Government of the United States. and dec-
laration of fidelity to the Constitution of the
Confederate States. When the oath was pro-
posed to Gov. Houston, he peremptorily re-
fused to take it whereupon the Convention
declared the Office of Governor vacant, and
Lieut.. Gov. Clark, under the Constitution.
having taken the prescribed oath. succeeded
to the Office. Gov. Clark was not slow in en-
tering upon the Gubernatorial functions,
and proceeding to the Governors Office, as
sumed the chair and entered upon the duties
of the Office. BY and by, the deposed Governor
came hobbling to his office-old Sans San
Jacinto wound having broken out afresh, as
il always does on occ asions of political
trial. Perceiving Gov. Clark occupying the
chair Old Sam addressed him:
"Well, Governor Clark" giving great en-
phasis to the title; "you are an early riser
=" Yes, General" replied the Governor with
greater stress upon the military title of his
predecessor. am illustrating the old
maxim, the early bird gathers the worm u :
We'll, Gov. Clark, 1 hope you will find it
an easier seat than have found it."
"I1l try to make it so, General. by con-
forming to the clearly expressed will of the
people of Texas
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 foot in hole in the carpet and stumbling,
the General suggested to Gov. Clark that the
new Government ought to afford a new car
pet for the Governors office, whereupon the
Governor remarked that the Executive of
Texas could get along very well without
carpet
Approaching the washstand, the General
called the attention of Gov. Clark to two
pieces of soap-one, the CASTLE soap, was
his own private property; and the other,
perfumed article. was the property of the
State, and added, Governor, your hands
will require the very frequent use of this
cleansing article;" whereupOn Gov. Clark,
pointing to the washbowl, which was full of
very black and dirty water. remarked: Gen
eral, suppose that is the bowl in which you
washed your hands before leaving the office.
Having gathered up all his buds, old Sam
made little farewell speech, very much in
the style of Cardinal Woolsey, declaring his
conviction that, as in the past, the time
would come when Texas would call him from
his retirement, and hoped Gov. Clark would
be able to give as good an account of bis
stewardship as he could now render. Halt
ing 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. And thus the "Hero of Jacinto"
concluded his political career!- IN, o. Delta.