The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-11

once, and proceeded to Texas. She was
a pleasant and lovely lady, having lived
Just one half of the number of years that
the General had at the time of their mar.
riage; but the union proved most happy
one. He idolized his wife, and often de
clared that he was never so happy as when
at home with her and his little family
indeed, he was ever excessively polite and
afIable to the ladies'. Several Children
four we brlieve-are the fruits of the un'
ion. One of them is a son. now 18 yearS
Of age, San Houston, Jr., young man oI
high promise. lie is a soldier in the Con-
feherate army. The others, we believe,
are daughters. One of Gen. HoustOn's
pecularties was manifested in regard ia
his baptismal name. With the maine
Samuel he seemed to be diSgusted. But
"Sam," which was his unabridged name,
he considered euphoniouS and most agree.
able.
Gen. Houston had kind heart, and he
was honest. lie was ambitious and vain
10 u considerable degree. His coat was
usually cut after the pattern Of that WON
hy G.arSr Washington in the latter part
Of his life. His vest, too, was of the
aSlingtonian style on some occasions
at others he wore a vest made of a cat
amounts hide, ian animal which he him
self slayedD, hair outside, with long mil
itary cloak. On his fingers were massive
signet aud gold rings. He wore, in cold
weather, a rich and large Indian blanket,
ornamented with the gaudy barbaric col
Ors so loved by the Indians. Tall in stat.
ure, of large frame, and erect, he present
ed 4 commanding personal appearance.
In intellect he was not remarkably great
man, but he had good share Of the per.
ceptive qualities, Disseminated with con.
siderable accuracy, and his judgment was
generally good. lie was rather cautious
than rash, and firm in the maintenance OF
a cause he believed to be right. One OF
his characteristics was shown in the per
sistency with which he shielded Santa
Anna during the several months that he
was prisoner, whilst the Congress, the
army, and most of the people, demanded
that he should be put to death, in retalia'
ton for the shocking masSacres he had
sanctioned at the Alamo and GOliad. But
Houston declared that if their prisoner
had acted barbarous part, Texas should
not; but that the young Nation should
stand before the world as civilized, hu'
nane, magnanimous power, and that hel
good name should not be diSgraced 10y
taking the life Of helpless prisoner of war
In the face of the opposition of almost thc
entire State, Houston sustained his posi-
/ ton, and shielded the prisoner.
! With life of adventure aud of romance
that have attached to few men in the his
tory of our Nation, Houston has passcl
down to the dark valley with an unblem
iShed character, with as few faults, per
haps, as can be laid at the door of any
man who has acted So prominent a par
amid thrilling scenes. Those persons who
have ever been made personally acquaint
ed with this remarkable man, will agree
with us that his form and features, anG
1 peculiar traits Cf character in converse
tion and in manners, will never be cttacc(
from their memories. We presume tina
/ he leaves his family in comfortable pccu
mary circumstances, as the Texas Legisla
ture, some years ago, presented to hin
1000 acres of valuable land.-Hartt0rC
IimeS.