Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-01
THE HOUSTONS.
New Governor-HOw He Ceased 90
be Silent Member OF Congress.
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New 80vern0r-HOW He Ceased &c
be a Silent Member OF Congress.
Frankfort (ky.) Yeoman.
A gentleman familiar with the facts
whereof be speaks, relates the follow
ing anecdOte Of Hon. George s. Hous-
ton, the newly elected Governor of
Alabama. Mr.. Houston had been a
member of Congress from the Athens,
Alabama, District for several sessions
prior to the year 1913. His brother,
Russell Houston, Esq, now of Louis
vile, KY, was then practicing law In
partnership with Hon. A. o. p. Mich
olson at Columbia, Tenn, both
of them already ranking among
the ablest and most distinguished
lawyers of the bar of that State.
During that year George, en- route to
Washington, stopped at Columbia to
pay brief visit to his brother, then a
bachelor, living In chambers on the
Court Square. Soon after his
arrival, all the leading Democraticlaw-
yers and politicians of the place called
around at Russell Houston's rooms to
pay their respects to the Alabama
Congressman. Though well known as
a true Democrat, George S. Houston
had as yet made but little figure in
Congress. His brother Russell was a
Wing. Among the Democratic politi-
clans who called upon him on that occa.
sion were Hon. James K. Polk,
Hon. A. o. p. Nicholson, Hon.
James II. Thomas, Hon. VIM.
H. Polk, and perhaps others of lesser
note. After talking over the affairs of
the country, political prospects, etc,
the conversation naturally turned upon
Congress-its past doings and what it
was likely to do at the approaching
session. Russell Houston being an ar
dent Wing In the midst of a crowd of
Democrats, of course had good deal
of chaff for the Democratic conclave,
and especially for his cCrpulent Loco
foco brother. Finally, half In earnest,
half in Jest, he let fly at the Hon.
George in the following didactic
fashion:
Look here, Georgei You've been
going to Congress now for 10 ! these
four or five sessions, and you've not
yet made single speech, or done any
thing else to make yourself talked
about since there you've been. You're
not known beyond the limits Of North
Alabama You 60 to Washington ses-
sion after session, and you do nothing
but sit there and vote and wear out ali
the seats of all your best breaches.
This won't do, any longer. III disown
you, if you don't make a 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 name.
Get up and say something. Make a
start and keep at it. Why, man alive,
get up and bray like a jackass, if you
can't do any better at first. Keep on
braying, and the gift of making your
self heard and felt will come after a
while.''
This speech and advice brought
down the house. Every one present
applauded. And it must have had a
powerful effect on the hitherto silent
brother. For it was noted that from
JHdJ Ilulc lOIHdTu, OeOrSe =. houston
became one of the most active and in
fiuential members of the House of
Representatives He began to speak a
great deal, and though his speeches
were brief, they were always practical
and to the point. He was soon recog-
nized as one of the best and safest of
the Woodworking members of the
House-one of the most reliable of the
Democratic leaders of the South. That
position he holds to this day, as his
recent elevation to the highest Office in
the gift of his State, by a large major.
ty, sufficiently attests. Hon. Jacob
Thompson, of Mississippi, ran a career
in Congress very similar to that of
Gov. Houston. When first elected, and
for two or three sessions, he seemed
comparatively dull and made very little
figure in Congress; but, gradually
learning the ropes, steadily progressing
and warming up to his work, lie finally
developed into Just such a strong
worker and leader as did George S.
Houston.