The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-09-03
A Renaissance of Sam Houston.

A Nashville correspondent OF the Chlca-
go Times writes:
The true story of Sam Houston's resig-
nation of the Governorship of this State
and joining the Cherokee Indians In Ar
kansas has never yet been published, and
when heard it, few days since, from the
lips of gray haired resident OF this CITY,
who had been the warm personal friend
of the hero of San Jacinto, | made
mental note of il for the benefit OF the
Times readers.
"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 1872. The next year be enlisted as
private in the army, and marched OH TO
the Creek war. He was soon made an en-
sign, and was the first to scale the works at
the battle of the Horseshoe, where he was
shot twice in the right arm.
"He came home and finally got well
and was appointed sub-agent to the Chero-
kee Indians, but he soon got into a quar-
rel with Calhoun, then Secretary of War,
and was removed. Then he came to Nash
vile in 1918. He began to study law with
Judge Trimble, and in six months time
was admitted TO the bar. AT the first SEES
sion of the Legislature, after this, he was
elected Attorney General of the State
over Francis B. Fogg, who was one of the
most prominent and scholarly lawyers in
the State.
He was then sent to Congress, where
he was warm Jackson man, and while
there had difficulty with John L. irwin,
and when they both came back to Nash
vile Irwin challenged him, sending his
challenge by a noted desperate of st.
Louis, who had killed several men. He
was not considered a gentleman, and
Houston would not take a challenge
through him. General White heard of it
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 1927. He had succeeded Governor
Carroll, who was a very popular man, and
who was spoken of prominently as can
didate for reelection. Houston was afraid
of him, and in order to secure his own re-
election to Congress in case Carroll beat
him for Governor, began to strengthen
himself politically, and in order to carry
out his scheme married, in January, 1929,
lady belonging TO very influential fam
lily at Gallatin, thirty miles north of Nash
vile. She was very handsome, brilliant
young lady, and attracted great attention
wherever she went, which eXasperated
Houston, who was of a mOrose, jealous
disposition. | 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.
Zone Saturday in April, | met him at a
big barbecue, Just west of the city, where
he and Carroll both made speeches. | 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 in 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 adj
mittance to his room. | persisted, however,
and was admitted by DR.. Shelby. found
Houston lying on the bed with his face
covered up, and, in answer to my aston
ished inquiries, DIR. Shelby told me that
Mrs. Houston's father had come down
from Gallatin for her the day before, and
that she had left her husband and returned
to the home of her childhood.
said [, General, what's this | hear p
"Said he, Pm a ruined man; Pm a
rGined mann'
IOlu OWGu IL ~ 1IlCllNlS "
give some explanation for his conduct, and
asked him why he and mis- wife had separa-
ted, to which he replied that he hadn't a
word to say against his wife-that she was
a high-minded, virtuous lady.
"He then said that he alone was to
blame; that he had decided to exile him
self among the Cherokee Indians, and
then he wanted me to carry his resigna-
ton as Governor to the Secretary of State.
This emphatically refused to do at first,
but at his earnest solicitation and that of
DIR. Shelby l finally consented.
1.-The next morning Houston, Shelby
and | went aboard a steamboat; Houston
being disguised so that no one recognized
him. We babe him gOod-by and he went
down to Cumberland. He told me after
ward that he got as far as Napoleon,
Ark, without being recognized, and in
that case he begged the man to say moth
ing about meeting him. He went to Fort
Smith, where he joined Cherokee by the
name of JULY, whom he had been tamil-
lar with while he was agent for the tribe.
He assumed the Indian dress, painted his
face, and could not be distinguished from
them.
"A few years afterward he passed
through Nashville with a delegation of In
dams on his way to Washington. rec
Ognized him, but wouldn't speak to him.
The fact is, his friends here considered he
had disgraced them, and were disguised
with him. While in Nashville he went
with his delegation and called on General
Jackson at the Hermitage"
"And how did Jackson treat him 2" |
asked.
81 don't know; butt suppose he treated
him all right, as they had been great
friends. After reaching Washington [
know he whipped member of Congress
by the name of Stansberry for saying
something disrespectful of jackson.
"After this we heard nothing more of
Houston until just before the Mexican
war, when we heard that he had gone to
San Augustine TO practice law. You
know his connection with the Mexican
war probably as well as do"
''He married again, believer
Yes. His wife got divorce, and he
married Mobile lady, and she made a
man of him. They visited Nashville to-
gether, and went with them to see Jack
son at the Hermitage, twelve miles from
the city. His first wife married again and
is now living near Nashville, unless she