The Charlotte Democrat., 1874-09-07

Hon ne Resigned the GOcefnOTSHtp y
Tennessee, .forsook his beautiful Wife
and joined tie Cherokee Indians.
Nashville letter to the Chicago Times.
The true story of Sam Houston's resigna-
tion of the Governorship of this State, and
his joining the Cherokee Indians of Arkan-
sas, has never yet been published, and
when we heard it few days since from
the lips of gray haired resident OF this
city who had been a warm personal friend
of the hero of San Jacinto, made mental
note CT it for the benefit of the Times read
ers:
"You see," said the old gentleman re-
ferred to, Houston and | were employed
in store together in Kingston, East Ten
nessee, when we were boys. That was
about 1912. The next year he enlisted as
a private in the army, and marched Oft to
the Greek war; He was soon made an en-
sign, and was the first to scale the works
at the battle Of Horseshoe, where he was
shot twice in the right arm.
"He came home and finally got well and
was appointed sub-agent to the Cherokee
Indians, but he soon got into quarrel with
Calhoun, then Secretary of War, and was
removed. Then he came to Nashville in
1918. He began to study law with Judge
Trimble, and in six months time was ad-
mitted to the bar. At the first session of
the Legislature after this he was elected
Attorney General of the State over Francis
B. Fogg, who was one Of the most prOml-
nent and scholarly lawyers in the State.
'He was then sent to Congress, where he
was a warm jackson man, and while there
had difficulty with John L. Irwin, and
when they both came back to Nashville
L..
by a noted desperate OF St. Louis, who had
killed several men. He was not considered
a gentleman, and Houston wouldn't take a
challenge through him. General White
heard this and made some remarks about
Houston, which led to duel between
Houston and White, in which White was
seriously wounded.
"This added to the popularity of Hous-
ton, and he was elected Governor of the
State in 1882. He had succeeded Governor
Carroll, who was very popular man, and
who was spoken of prominently as a candi-
date for reelection. Houston was afraid
of him, and III order to secure his own re-
election to Congress in case Carroll bea:
bin for Governor. began to strengthen
himself politically, and in order to carry
out his scheme married, in January, 1929, a
lady belonging to very influential familv V
at Gallatin, 80 miles North of Nashville.
She was very handsome, brilliant young
lady, and attracted great attention wherev-
er she went, which exasperated Houston,
who was of a morose, jealous disposition. l
USED to see him frequently and knew that
he had married purely through political
reasons, and soon saw that his domestic life
was an unhappy one.
Gone Saturday in April met him at a
big barbecue nst west of the city, where he
and Carroll both made speeches. l saw
that the feeling of that crowd was all in
his favor, and told him SO, which caused
him to be in the very best Of spirits, and
while i'll that mood we separated. Monday
morning | called at the Nashville inn,
where he and his wife had been boarding
since their marriage, but was refused ad-
mittance to his room. / persisted, however,
found Houston lying on the bed with his
face covered up, and, in answer to my as
tonshed inquiries, DIR. Shelby told me that
Mrs Houston's father had come down from
Gallatin for her the day before, and that
she left her husband and returned to the
home OF her childhood.
''Said |, General, what's this I hear?'
"Said he. Pm ruined man; rm a
ruined man!''
81 told him he owed it to his friends to
give some explanation for his conduct, and
asked him why he and his wife had separa-
ted, to which he replied that he mad not a
word to say against his wife-that she was
a highminded, virtuous lady.
''He then said that he alone was to
blame; that he had decided to exile him.
self among the Cherokee Indians, and that
he wanted me to carry his resignation as
Governor TO the Secretary of State. This
| emphatically refused to do, at first, but at
his earnest solicitation and that of Dr.
Shelby, I finally consented.
"The next morning, Houston, Shelby and
L went aboard steamboat, Houston being
disguised so that no one recognized him.
We bade him goodbye, and he went down
the cumberland. He told me atterward
that he got as far as Napoleon, Ark, with
begged the man TO say nothing about meet
ing him. He went on to Fort Smith. where
he joined Cherokee by the name of JULY,
whom he had been familiar with while he
was agent for the tribe He assumed the
Indian dress, painted his face, and could
not he distinguished from them.
VA few years afterward he passed through
Nashville, with delegation of Indians, on
hls way to Washington. recognized him,
but wouldn't speak to him. The fact is,
his friends considered he had disgraced
them, and were disgusted with him. While
IN Nashville he went with his delegation
and called on Gen. Jackson at the Hermi-
tage.
"Ana how did Jackson treat him ?''
asked.
II don't know, but supposed he treated
him all right, as they had been great friends.
After reaching Washington, l knew he
whipped a member of Congress by the name
of stansberry for saying something dis