The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-11-24
General Sam Houston


Mr.. Geo. w. Sampson claims to have beel
the pastor of General Houston for man,
years, and SIS such obtained facts hithert,
unknown in regard to that great mans frs
marriage while governor of Tennessee, hi
resignation of that Office, abandonment o
his young wife and his voluntary exile from
civilization to the Indian territory.
Mr. Simpsons statements, if true, are inter
esting, but unfortunately they contain 81
many gross misrtatements and perv, rsiurs o
historical truth, that discredit is thrown upor
the whole, and it is believed that his letter i
purely sensational. General Houston's OLE
personal friends, of whom there are many il
Dallas, know Of no such man SIS Rev. Georg,
w. Sampson, who ever occupied the rela.
tionship Of pastor to him, either at Austin
Huntsville or Washington.
quote from Mr.. SIMPSONS letter to the
Tribune "Late in 1928, the marriage Ger
emory WIS performed with unusual pomp
The next day Houston resigned his office OF
governor, crossed the Mississippi, and went
to the Cherokee nation, etc"
Authentic history records the fact that
General Houston was married in January,
and did not resign his office and abandon
his wife and his state until April following,
period of some three months, and not of,e
night, as stated by this veracious historian.
Again: ain Washington, as senator from
1871 to 1861, no truer statesman than Sa n
Houston sat in the capitol" Ii W Ii,
known historical fact that tho annexation of
Texas to the United Ststes was aot consum-
mated until February 10, 1886 and by the
legislature, then in session, General Houston
was elected to the United States senate, and
retired from that position in March,. 1859,
being succeeded by General Lewis L. Wig
fall. After his retirement he never again
visited Washington City.
Aud again: "When on the day President
Lincoln was inaugursted March, 1861, Vi
dettes were at every street corner where the
procession was to pass. Close up TO the
left side of the carriage in which Lincoln
sat, with Buchanan on his right, the tall form
OF Houston, mounted and armed, was seen
throughout the whole route pressing go
closely up to the wheels that no man could
have passed between" At this very time il
is well known that General Houston was
performing his duties as governor of Texas,
to which he had been elected in August,
1859, and was not within 1900 miles Of
Washington City. His term of Office did
not expire until November, 1861, though by
edict of the secession convention he vacated
the office on March IS, 1861, two weeks
after Lincoln's inauguration, retiring to his
farm at Cedar Point, near Galveston
Next to passing the ordinance Of secession
the deposition OF Governor Houston was the
greatest error that body committed. The
most prominent facts in General Houston
long, brilliant and useful career as histori-
cal character, may be briefly stated as fol-
lows:
In 1921, he wHs'appointed adjutsnt general
OF Tennessee 1928 elected 10 the United
States congress; 1925, reelected to con
gress 1927, elected governor Of Tennessee
1882, in December, first came to Texas 1888
delegate from Nschodoches to the San Fe
lipe convention; 1885, delegate to the gen
ersl consultation; 1885, general of the military
district east ofthe Trinity river; 1886, Nov
3, elected general ,in-ehief OF all the armies Of
Texas; 1886, Oct o. inaugurated president
of the republic OF Texas, his term expiring
December 10, 1888 1879 and 1910, served
in the congress of Texas; 1841, De-
cember 10, insugurated for O
y second term president of the republic
his term expiring December 8, 1914; 1916,
elected to the senate o. the United States
and continued to al thiG exalted station until
March, 1869; 1867, in August, was defeated
for governor by Hon. H. r. Runnels; 1869
in August, was elected governor over his for.
mer competitor; 1861, March ..18, retired
From the Office of governor by decree of the
secession convention, Hon. Edward Clark,
lieutenant governor, filling out his unex.
PRED term; 1863 July 26, General Houston
peacefully passed away from earthly scenes
at his home in Huntsville, Texas--revered
for his virtues and his greatness, not only by
the people of Texas who loved him as a
father, but by the people Of the nation al
large.
1t is not believed that any human being
now living knows the reason which actusted
General Houston in HE strange conduct in re-
signing the high office of governor of great
state, whose people idolzad him, and the
almost certainty ofsucceeding General Jack
son to the presidency Of the United STATES
Leaving his young and beautiful wife and
the thousands of devoted friends, who
cherished the wsrmest aft ction for him, and
U
wild and savage race, where it was not posi-
bic he could fl ID even one congenial spirit.
Certain it is that no member of his military,
political or personal family ever received any
revelation from him ON this subject
The curious world guessed at these strange
mysteries, and many theories we're advanced,
but although no man who ever lived had
truer friend, than Gen. Houston, yet he was
never known to vouchssfe one word OF
explanation even to those who had known
him longest ard most intimately, and it Is
not probable, indeed tits highly improbable
that he would have taken stranger to his
confidence on subject too sacred for refer.
ence, even in his own family circle.
No, the mystery of Gen. Houston's early
life lies buried with him in an honorable
grave; hidden forever from the profan
world, and revealed only to Him who know
the secress and sorrows of all hearts.
Dallas Nov. %. 1880.
GEO. T. Afford