The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-12-20
An Interesting Anecdote of Alabama's New
Governor.
frankfort (Ky.) Yeoman.l

thyD Seomanl
A gentleman familiar with the facts
anecdote of Hon. Geo. S. Houston, the
newly elected Governor of Alabama. Mr..
Houston had been 8 member of Congress
from the Athens, Ala, District for several
sessions prior to year lS43. His brother,
Russell Houston, Esq, now of Louisville,
ship with Hon. A. o. P. Nicholson, at CO.
lumbia, Tenn, both of them already rank
ing amongst the ablest and most disting-
uished lawyers of the bar of that State
During that year George, en- route to Wash
ipgton, stopped at Columbia to pay a brief
visit to his brother, then Q bachelor, living
in chambers on the Court House Square.
Soon after his arrival, all the leading
Democratic lawyers and politicians of the
place assembled around at Russell Hous-
toms rooms to pay their respects to the
Alabama Congressman. Though we'll
known as Il through Democrat, George
s. Houston had as yet made but little
figure in Congress. His brother Russell
was Wing Among the Democratic pol; ;
ticians who called upon him on that occa-
sion were Hon. James X. Polk, Hon. A. o.
P. Nicholson, Hon. Jas. II. Thomas, Hon.
VIM, II. Polk, and Pc baps others of lesser
note. After talking over the affairs of the
country, political prospects, ETC., the con-
versation naturally turned upon Congress
do at the approaching session. Russell
Houston being an ardent Wing in the
midst of a crowd of Democrats, of course
had a good deal of chatf for the Democratic
conclave, and especially for his corpuient
Locofoco brother. Finally, half in earnest,
half in jest, he let fly at the Hon. George
in the following didactic fashion:
"Look bore, George! You've been going
to Congress now for 10! these four or five
sessions, and you've not yet made single
speech, or done anything else to make
yourself talked about since there you've
been. You're not known beyond the limits
Of North Alabama. You go to Washington
session after session, and you do nothing
but sit there and vote and wear out all the
seats of your best breecbes. This won't do,
any longer. iii disown you, if you don't
make noise with yourself when you get
to Washington this time. What's the use
of going to Congress unless you're going
to have yourself talked about and make
a name. Get mp and say something. Make
get up and bray like a jackass, if you can't
do any better at first. Keep on braying:
and the gift of making yourself heard aud
felt will cone after awhile"
This speech and advice brought down
the house. Every one present applauded.
Aud it must have had a powerful effect on
the hitherto silent brother.-For it was
Houston became one of the most active
and Influential members of the House of
Representatives, He hogan TO speak
great deal, aud though bis speeches were
brI-,, they were always practical and to
he puiut. He was soon recognized as one
the best and safest of the hard working
mem bers of the Hnuse-nDe of the most
reliable of the Democratic leaders of the
South. Thai position he huida to dav, IA
his Teceut elevation TO the highest office In
the gift of his SFaur, by q large mSj"rIty,
sufficiently attests. Hon. Jacnb Tn"mp-
son, of Mississippi, ran a career IN Cong
ress very similar TO that of GoveruUr
Houston. When first elected, and for two
or three sessions. be seemed comparatively
dull and made very little figure in Cong
ress but, gradually learning the ropes,
steadily progressing aud Warming up TO
his work, he finally developed into juet
such strong worker and leader as did
George S. Houston.