Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-05-03
OLD SAM HOUSTON.


uriated sum Of money for erecting a
statue to perpetuate the memory Of old
Sam Houston, the iberator Of Texas
from Mexican rule, the president Of the
independent Lone Star Republic, and
afterwards United States Senator
'-Old San JacintO, as be was called,
was one Of those rough characters which
only the southwest ST that era could
produce. How he became President Of
Texas after his victory over Mexico is
not generally known. however, and so
give 4 correct account Of il. Houston
was sitting in a split-bott0m chair, with
faded h0rse-blanket thrown over his
shoulders his giant frame was still
muscular, his eyes bright, but age was
telling on HIM He did most Of the
talking, recounting many humorous es-
capades Of his youth, how he used to
keep drunk for week, go to church on
Sunday, take the temperance pledge,
and return to his carousing companions
on Monday for another weeks spree
His life among the Indians, west Of Ar
kansas and Missouri, be described with
almost dramatic effect, and the details
Of his taking command in Texas, and
whipping that internal scoundreI. San
ty Amy" as he pronounced the name,
we're highly interesting. After the We
tory Of San JacintO, Santa Anna having
recognized the Independence Of Texas
the Republic was proclaimed, and it was
resolved that Houston should be the first
president. Sam at once mounted a Ia
bic and made the following extraordi IA
~ speech: 'FelIow-eitIzens nv heart
swells with joy TO see all the adventur-
ers. swindlers, blaeklegs, gamblers. rob.
oers, and thieves Of the United States
assembled around me. Just such ueo-
pie Romulus had about him when be
founded the mighty city Of Rome; peo.
pie able TO withstand any power on
earth. but unable to govern themselves
such people must have an iron rod Il
rule them If you think that I an
night, then choose NE, and you vii
have the iron arm and feel the irou-v-
Il believe then. said Houston, az h
continued, that they would fall uuor
me and tear NE to pieces but they do
nothing Of the kind They shouted
unanimously, ''Hurrah for Sam Houston
our PRESIDENT I took the Office, ana
governed them more arbitrarily thai
any despot. Aword Of nine was enough
to ImprisOn a man Once It happened
that I shot down fellow with nv own
hand because he resisted arrest As L
the laws Of the Legislature. cared ia
them not the snap Of ny finger. di,
As | liked but 1 kept order. Tire
years passed IN this way, and one day
As | was sitting IN ny room. behind
long table on which were nv pistols a.
ways ready for service, committee q
the Legislature eutered, each nan wit
4 cooked pistol In his hand The chair
man Of the committee Immediately ad
dressed ne Mr. President, for I'd
last three years you have treated Us TX
dogs In obedience TO a resolution I
the Legislature We have come here |
announce TO you that We viii not sui
NIT TO such government any longer, an
that If you continue IN this way. Y
shall shoot you down ike dog" Or
On this, | Jumped with bound aero,
the table, embraced and kissed the chat
j nan aud exclaimed. This Is the IA,
= pest day Of ny life, indeed. for now
. see that some human feeling has bee
: awakened IN your hearts Now 70
: have no more need Of me- resign n
: once, because from this moment eve,
man II you Is 1t to govern Texas. The
1 accepted my resignation, but a mouth a
1 terWards they again elected ne pres
{ dent oy an unanimous vote That v,
= the way gentlemen. how We did thin
N Texas, before annexatiou."