The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-12-11

than his Indian associates, and at this pc
riod his habits reached their lowest point
of self-indulgence 1t was not to be sup
posed that his better instincts and capa-
bilities could always remain content with
the narrow interests and degrading hab-
its Of savages, however strong the bar
barlc elements in his nature, or however
severe the blow that had rendered civil
lied life for a time intolerable to him.
The thoughts of the possibilities of his
abandoned career must have obtruded
themselves upon him with more and more
persistent regret, and the degradation and
failure of his life been felt with keener
poignancy as the years went by
To the unhappiness and degradation of
this life there came hope of relief and
redemption in the news Of the stirring of
national life in Texas, and the combined
eagerness for the foundation of new en-
pire and of resistance to a degrading do
minion among its American settlers.
All the adventurous spirits of the border
were attracted by the scent Of warfare
and the hope of fortune, and a small party
was formed of the daring rovers in the
territory. Houston joined this, and nat
urally became its leader, although he was
so poor at the time that he had to take
his departure on small pony unfit to
carry his weight, which was finally ex-
changed by the good will of one of his
associates for more presentable horse.
He did not at once conquer his feelings of
degradation and hopelessness, but re-
NAMED for some time with small settle
ment of Cherokees upon the Red river be-
fore going forward to Texas. Perhaps
deprived of the opportunity for indul-
gence, his manly qualities strengthened
themselves, or the news of the imminence
of the struggle with Mexico still further
fired his spirit, and he finished his journey
with results as are familiar to history.
That he sincerely loved his Indian wife
is made evident by the fact that when he
had established himself and won fame and
honor in Texas he sent for her to join him,
but she refused to leave her people and
familiar life, and died in few years in
the home which he had made lie left no
Indian children, but the family of his wife
was large and notable one, and his neph-
ews and nieces are numerous in the tribe,
some Of them distinguished by their intiu
ence and intelligence. To his credit
Houston never forgot his friendship with
the Cherokees or endeavOred to ignore his
life among them. After his election to
the United States Senate he was fervent
in advocating their interests and in de-
Tending them from injustice. Not only
as the special champion of this tribe,
but in an intelligent understanding of
the Indian question, and the wisdom as
we'll as the justice of honesty and consid-
Grafton, he was far beyond the ma aority of
public men of his time, and particularly
of the spirit of border greed and prejudice
which is by no means yet extinct. Like
some of the army officers who had shared
their tears and learned to admire their
bravery and faitbfulness, he was friend
of the Indian from sympathy as well as
sense of uprightness and honor, and re-
spected their barbaric virtues as he under
stood the elements of their character
His rooms were always open to the Cher
okee delegations when they arrived in
Washington, and he was their friendly
companion as we'll as the sharer Of their
councils, and their advocate at the Indian
bureau and on the floor of Congress. His
regards were paid with lasting reverence.
He has a peculiar place in the remem-
brance and tradition of the Cherokee
people as their faithful and powerful
friend, and his name is perpetuated as an
honorable patronymic in the younger
generations, like that Of William Penn.