The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-03

Courier-Journall
In the old days of the old Senate, the
old United States, we mean, there might
have been seen any morning, a little be
fore the usual hour, tall figure stalk out
Of Wizards Hotel, and wend its way
majestically toward the Capitol The
figure was in full proportion, six feet and
a half high, with flesh to match. It was
surmounted by Mexican Z" sombrero,
and partially concealed by one Of those
bright, Jalapa blankets, worn negli gently
over the shoulder, which one constantly
meets between the Sabine and the Rio
Grande. Beneath the neatly fitting suit
of the heaviest and richest cloth might
be seen, now and then a vest of tiger
skin, very conspicuous and unique. The
head was close shaver, with hair of iron
gray the eyes piercing the features
clear cut and symetrical; the face close
shaver, with rudy tinge. They called
him Old Sam Houston He was Sena-
tor from Texas but he had led a life Of
adventure.
We publish this morning some very
interesting data of this man, from the
pen of Col Willoughby Williams, of
Tennessee. The story of Col. Williams
is the more valuable because it is in no
sense picturesque. 1t is exact as legal
record, and can be more absolutely re-
lied on for, though an octogenariam, its
author is intellectually as exact as the
friend of Old Hickory, he was noted
alike for his probity and his manhood.
Col Williams reference to Houston's
separation from his wife put to flight an
old, romantic story touching that affair.
The story ran that Oh the night of the
marriage, after the bridal party and guests
had retired, Houston, then Governor Of
Tennessee, and the handsomest man in
the world, noiselessl y tripped down stairs,
stole out of the house, wendell his way to
Nashville on foot, deposited his resigna-
ton in the post office by stealth, and
made his way out Of the city IN disguise,
to be lost to the knowledge of men for
many years Col. Williams account is
more matter of fact. Houston and his
bride did actually live together; it was
several weeks or months before the sep
aration occurred, though he did quit the
capital of Tennessee in disguise. Subse
quently fact which Col. Williams does
not state, but Of which we have positive
knowledge, Houston wrote a letter to \.
o. i. Nicholson, during the tendency of
his wife's application to the Legislature
for divorce, saying she ought to have it,
generating her from all blame, and de
claring that if the stories to her. discredit
which had come to him, were not stopped,
he would return to Tennessee, and, to use
his own words, ''have the hearts blood of
the man who dared to SANDER the purest
of Gods creatures" This letter was read
by Judge Nicholson to the Legislature,
and the divorce was promptly granted.
Mrs Houston afterwards married, and
lived to a ripe old age, as did General
Houston himself The secret of the sep
aration died with them.
For long time General Houston lived
among the Indians. His habits, accord
ing to his own account, were very bad
He had taken an Indian wife Indian
fashion. He became an Indian chief
But when the Texas revolution broke out
he came to the front, and assuming SUI
preme command, won the fight and was
the hero of the struggle. He served as
President of the Republic twice and on its
annexation to the United States was cleo
ted a Senator to Congress. Defeated in
1857 on account of his vote against the.
Kansas Nebraska bill, he made memo
rable canvass for Governor of Texas in
1882 carrying the State by am over
whelming majority. One of the greatest
stump speeches ever made on the CONT
nent was delivered by him at Nachito-
ches during his canvass. After closing a
mastery argument against the Kansas
Nebraska bill, he said ''But fellow cit
liens, you whopped me, you whopped me
good. Now, eff | done wrong, you have
had your satisfaction; and if you done
wrong, God knows | forgive you" He
was fond of commingling a little ingram
maticism into his usually pure, stalwart
and coaxing English. His voice was me
lodous, and, whilst commanding, concili-
atory. His magnetism was really over
towering. On the frontier, with the rude
but practical backswoodsmen, he was ir-
resistible. As an anecdotelist and story
teller he had no superior
His eccentricities were numerous. He
would sit all dayin the Senate with lit
tie pile of soft wood and basket, whit
thing. He had surprising talents as a
carver, making hearts and darts, crosses
and devices, with facility. These he dis
tributed among his lady friends, and to
children, of whom he was immensely fond
Around his bedroom at Wizards were
hung little printed cards on which were
inscribed, "My bedtime is nine o'clock
Shrewd, eloquent, handsome, his desire
to be President Of the United States was
a passion with him. A pity he was not
elected in 1856. There would have been
no war.
Gen Houston died just at the close of
the great sectional strife. Like many an
other Southern statesman of his genera
ton, his head was on one side his heart
on the other. On the whole, his career |
exceeds in romance that of any of our
public men. His life has never been fair
ly written. What a volume of moving
accidents by food and field, of disastrous
and brilliant exploits it would
He left many children, among
them daughter of genius, who unfortu-
nately, prefers poetry to biography.
improvements i'm the Art of Dress.