New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-13
SAN HOUSTON'S EXILE.
fANY YEARS.

REV. DIR. SAMSON. tX-PREsIDBNT OF THE COL
UMBIAN UNIVERSITY, AND GENERAL HoUsToNs
OLD PAsiOR-wHY HE ABANDONED Ins WIFE,
his OFFICE AND CIVILIZATION.
To me EdItOr OF Ihe Trtbune.
SIR: The St. Louis Globe Democrat published
weeks private letter OF President Jackson
TO General sam Houston, dated Washington d. c., June
81 1929 pIescrv by old Texan, former friend Of
Houston's which has more Than personal history at
tached 10 it, President Jackson recalls his delightful
meeting with his friend year before when. as Gov.
error Of Tennessee, lie about to be united to beau
tful young lady Of accomplished manners and OF re-
spectaple connections As 10 his sudden determination
10 settle with the Indians and become savage" he
oacIaims Surely 1t u DREAM" and he hints that
though addre sed at the Cherokee Agency Territory
of Arkansas his intention is TO found Texas South
western Empire; revying thus scheme of other men
earlier times.
The GLOBE Democrat alludes Houson's act. which
called out ihs letter rou his old friend, Of
most singular and utterly unexplained acts
nected with General Houston any other great hisor
zeal character" AS the true explanation has since his
death been made known by his widow those specially
nrusted with the preparation of his memoirs tie pub
lcai0n OF which Is perhaps now indefinitely post
puned, Justice to truth and TO HOust0ns memory us q
model OF loyalty seems to demand the following
statement OF the proofs OF that loyalty:
As pastor Senator Houston 1915 1861, init
Ie the writer when requested to contribute to the
posed memoir, made acquainted with the fact OF
his keener and more lasting than that
OF the posOued Indian whose fostering he used
sometimes 10 his friends. The atesaton OF his
loyalty III all Otner relations heard often from his
ps and read unmstakaDe acts Is In perfect accord
with the authentic facts Of history which any reader
can verify even IN brief Encyclopedia notices. There
is not particle of evidence any preserved record
which indicates "A faint Of dsloyaty IN any relation.
Born IN Virginia In 1893, lett orphan in
boy hood Sam Houston went with his mother 20
Tennessee, where be supported her by his own
industry thus early learning family loyalty. In
1918. at the age OF twenty, he enlisted un1er
General Jackson in the Creek war, and for
his repeated deeds Of gianry he gained the esteem
of Jackson he urged hun TO remain permanently IN
the army RessDing however, and studying law IN Nash
VILE he from office to Office. aud In 1928 at the age
of thirty he elected 70 Congress and then again
1927 was elected Governor Of Tennessee Up this time
Houston was unmarried Universally admired and urged
by associates TO alliance which seeued
TO his station young lady OF beauty and accomplish
mems was commended 70 him BY family influence. HES
proposal OF marriage was accepted ana late in 1923 the
marriage ceremony was performed with unusual pomp
The next day Houston resigned his Office. crossed the
Mississippi into Arkansas, and December H. 1928, wrote
from the Agency his old Cherokee acquaintance
letter t. President Jackson which called forth his letter
OF January 81. 1929 No on- Of HoustDn's companions
knew till his death Of his course which
his friends. like Jackson, regarded as partial
any; no one but his widow could reveal IL, and she
only through sense OF c0niugal and Christian duty.
That cause the highest test of loyalty OF which any
man could be capab!e.
On the eve Of marriage, Governor Houston observed
tremor in tue and in the hand OF his bride when
the vow OF undivided attachment pronOu which
conync' him secret had not been revealed 10 hun
Before retiring he frankly told her OF his SUSPICION asked
rank confession ana pledged that II should
work her injury His fraukncss and nrmness led to
confession that affections hal been given and pledged
To another before their meeting. and that la duty had
her acceptance Of his proer Houston retired
To his OWN cot day resigned his position allowed
fault to appear TO be . ed and encouraged
her application divorce the plea Of desertIOu and
his bride married to the man OF her former affection
ny irregularities rumor, OF course charged on the
man who had really sacrificed everything 10
had erred only In mistaken duty bur no charge q
domestic iuh=eiy could be true IN man who denied
it to tue cstmabe lady who afterwards became his
W.T.
known TO histoIy One year after That letter was writ
ten Houston the chosen representative OF Tao |
Chorokcos at Washington. II visit to Texas
year or later that Houston was drawn into Texan
AFFAIRS The large Connecticut colony induced 10 into
Annn's promises In 1880 incorporated INTO 1hc
n sn, smeoa to Mexican law aud sovsr
ment. Tdcse Americans in Texas. with loyal !
they elected Houston their delegate to The Conven
ton that he'd been called 10 revise thr Mexican Cons
tuition which ia 1924 nad borrowed largely from that
o: the United States The C0l0nists had increased In
number to 900 when Houston became Their delegate.
The crafty santa Anna after repeated efforts for peace
did moi BEGIN hosiiltirs until 1885 Though superior in
ability Houston did not become cOinmandcr-inch OF |
iii the post was resigned by Colonel :. f. Ausn, the
soa OF the ColOnst III the autumn OF 1888 Hous-
toms ceipency Santa Auna alter the msssacres lie
had perpetrated was loyalty To the rules OF wnt
During lie elgnt years from 1877 10 lsi5. Of Texan IN
deuen1ence Houston faithful tOeycry obligation ~
Hfc Il WAS during this period that he obtained d
yorce frum the Legislature or the State o which he was
preside A. and msrrrd OF the most accomplished
and OF Christian women VINO, Win large fam
ly OF children survives him When al last am erat"n
pre- Houston promoted t. the utmost 10 annexation
In 40 senator from 1s45 10 1861 no truer
sic.rns tnan Sam Houston sat III tho Capitol In so
en-, relations no OF vice appeared Tor lac was Of the
Roman stamp 80 hunorcd recently by The TRIBUNE rs
a type Of the Republican leaders OF France Though |
unable 10 BRING bs family tO the Capital they were al
ways m III. thought. Ho spent sunday afternoon IN
writing to and no ever spoke ia all company OF
tho fact that " his vile hA -"- nd.hnd