Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-11-17
SAM. HOUSTON'S EXILE
After Fffty-0ns Years the Great
Secret Of His Life is
Told.
Truth Stranger Than Fic.
ton.


Correspondent New York Tribunel
The st. Louis Globe Democrat pub
lished SOME weeks since a private
letter of President jackson to Gener
81 sam Houston, dated Washington,
d. O., June Il, 1929. preserved by al
old Texan, a friend of Houston's,
which has more than a person nal histO-
~ attached TO it.. President jackson
recalls his delightful meeting with
his friend one year before, when, as
governor Of Tennessee, he was about
to be united 10 a beautiful young lady
of accomplished manners and OF re-
spectacle connections. As to his
sudden deter min ition to settle With
the Indians and become a savage he
exclaims Surely it is a dream, and
he hints that though now addressed
at the Cherokee Agency. Territory Of
Arkansas, his intention is TO be found
in Texas, a southwestern empire re-
viging thus a scheme Of other men and
in earlier times.
The Globe Democrat alludes to
Houston's act, which called out this
letter from his old friend, as zone of
the most singular and utterly mex
planned acts ever connected with Gen
oral Houston OF any other great histOr-
zeal character" As the true expla-
nation has since his death been made
known By his widow TO those specially
entrusted with the preparation OF his
memoirs, the publication Of which is
perhaps now indefinitely postponed,
Justice to truth aud TO HOuston's
memory as a model of true loyalty
seems TO demand the following state
ments Of the proofs Of that loyalty.
As pastor Of Senator Houston from
1916 10 1861, ultimate with ali his phi
vate though S as well as his public
life, the writer, when requts ted to con-
tribute to the proposed me uoir, was
made acqu United with his marriage
wound: Ike ne. aud more lasting than
that OF the poisoned Iudian arrow,
whose fostering he used sem times t.
show to his friends. The ~attestation of
his loyalty in all other relations. heard
often his own lips, and read in IN
mlstakaDle att, is in perfect accord
wilh the auth ntic facts OF history.
which any reader can verify even In
encyclopedia notices. Thereis not a
particle Of evidence in any preserved
record which indicates q faint Of dis
loyalty in any relation.
Born in Virginia 10 1893, left an or
phau 10 boyhood, sam Houston went
with his mother to Tennessee, where
he supported her BY his own industry,
thus early learuiDgfamIly loyalty. Ia
kSL3, at the age oil twenty, he enlisted
under General jackson in the Greek
war. and Tor bis repeated deeds ofgal-
lntFy be so g,iued the esteem Of
Jackson that he urged him % re
main permanently the army. Resign
ing, however aud Studying lawn Nash
vile, he rose from Office TO Office, and
IN loz. at the age Of thirty, be vas
selected to congress, and then again ia
1871 was elfetei governor OF Tennes
see. Up to this time Houston was
unmarried. Universally admired, and
arged by hi associates 70 form an al
lance which seemed essential to his
station, a young lady Ofbeauly aud &C
eomplishmenis was commended TO
him by iamily Influence. His proposal
Of marriage was accepted. and late 10
1923 the marriage ceremony was per-
formed with unusual pomp. The next
day Houston resigned his office, cross
Cd the Mississippi into Arkansas, aud
December IL, lS28. wrote from the
agency OF his old Cherokee acQuaint-
ances the letter 10 President Jackson
which called forth his letter Of Janu
AIRY /, 1879. No one Of Houston'
companions knew till bis death the
oaus Of his NV course, which his
best friends, like Jaekson, regarded a.
partial insanity; no one but his widow
could reveal it, and she only through a
ems Of%coniugal and Christian duty.
That was the highest test OF loyalt,
OF which any man could be capable
On the eve OF marriage, Goyernor
Houston observed a tremor ir tn,
voice and 10 the hand Of his bride
when the VOW Of undivided attach
ment was pronounced. which con
WINGED him some secret had not bee
revealed TO him. Before retiring b.
frankly told her Of his suspicion
asked a frank confession, and pledge,
her that IL should not work her injury
His irinkness and hrmnessle led 20 III
confession that her affections had bee
given and pledged TO another beror
their meeting, aud that hlial duty ha.
prompted her acceptance of bis prof.
FER. Houston re ired to bis own CO.
next day resigned his position, Above
the entire fault to appear 70 be hi
permitted and encouraged her april
oation TOR a divorce on the plea OF d.
sertion, and his bride Was married /
the man of her former affection Man
irreeularities rumor, of course, charge
on the min who had really sacrifice
everything 20 save ono who had ere
only 10 improner duty. But no charp
Of domestic infd lily could be tFu
10 a man who denied il to the estim,
bic lady who afterwards became b
wife.
The suggestion Of ambitious design
naturally assumed as true by jackson
was disproved BY facts known to hi
sory. Ono year after that letter va
written Houston was the chosen rel
resentatiyo Of the Cherokees at Wash
ingtop. i was on = visit to Tcxas