Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-11-30

To the Editor Of the Tribune:
SIR--l'he st Louis GiObo Democrat pub.
fishes some weeks since private letter
Of President jackson TO Gen. Sam llOus.
ton, dated Washington, ID. c., June q,
1923 preserved by an old Texan, Il for
mer friend Of lIoustOn's, which has more
than personal history attached to ii.
President jackson recalls his delightful
meeting with his friend one year before,
when, as Governor of Tennessee, he was
"about to be united to beautiful young
lady OF accomplished manners ana Ol
respectable connections" As to. his
sudden determination to "seltle with the
Indians and become savage" he cX-
claims: "Surely II Is II DREAM" and he
hints that though now addressed at the
Cherokee Agency, Territory Of Arkan-
sas, his intention Is to found in Texas 4
Southwestern Empire; reviving thus Il
scheme Of other men in earlier times.
The Globe Democrat alludcs to llOus-
toms act, which called out this letter
from his old friend, as zone Of the most
singular and utterly unexplained acts
ever connected with General Houston or
any other great historical character" "
AS the true explanation has since his
death been made known by his widow
TO those specially intrustCd with the
preparation of his memoirs, the pubica-
ton of which Is now perhaps IN
definitely postponed, justice to truth and
TO llouston's memory rs n model of true
loyalty seems to demand the following
statement of the proofs of that loyalty:
As pastor of Senator Houston from
1915 to 1861, intimate with all his private
thoughts us well MS Of his public life, the
writer, when requested to contribute to
the proposed memoir, was made ac-
qunintcd with the fact of his marriage
wound; keener and more lasting than
that of the poisoned Indian arrow, whose
fostering he used sometimes to show to
his friends. The attcstatlOn of his 10y
atty In all other relations, heard often
from his own lips, and read In unmls-
taxable nets, Is In perfect accord with
the authentic facts of history which any
reader can verify even In brief Ehcyclo-
nadia notices. There Is not n particle
of evidence In any preserved record
which indicates talnt of disloyalty IN
any relation.
Born In Virginia In 1903, left an or
phan IN boyhood, Sam Houston went
with his mother to Tennessee, where nc
supported her by his own industry, thus
early learning family loyalty. In 1873,
NJ the ngo of twenty, he enlisted under
General jackson In the Creek war, ana
for his repeated deeds of loyalty he 80
gained the esteem of Jackson that he
urged him to remain permanently IN the
army. Rcsigning, however, ANA study
inp law In Nashville, he rose from office
TO office, and IN 1923, at The age Of thirty
he was elected TO Congress, ana then
apain In 1927 was elected Governor of
Tennessee. Up to this time Houston
was unmarried. Universally admired,
nnd urged by associates to form all Alll-
nure which seemed essential to his sta
lion. a young lady Of beauty and accom-
nilshmenis was commended To him by
mmlly influence. Ills proposal Of mar
rinpr wna accepted, aud late IN 1873 the
mnrrinpe ceremony WIS performed WIN
unusuni pomp The next dav Houston
rrslvned his Office, crossed the Mlssl--
sippi into Arkansas, nnd IN December !
1ggs. wrote from The Agency Of his old
Cherokee acquaintance The letter to Pres
Idoet Jnrkson which called forth his lct-
ter of january ~, 1890. No one of
IIoiston's friends knew the cnusc of bis
now course, which his best friends, Ike
jackson. regarded as partial lnsnnityi
mo one but his widow cOuld reveal ",
and ahe only through sense Of conju-
gol and Christian duty That cause was
the highest test Of loyalty Of which any
one could be capable,
on the eve Of marriage Governor llous,
ton observed q ttcmor In the voice ana
In the hand Of his bride, when the vow
of undivided attachment was pronounr'