The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-28

superior TO tna1 OF tne Oulbeu Ouauoe' ne
vetoed the land bill, which was then passed
over his head, and whose fruitful harvest
of frauds fulfilled his prophesy. He
vetoed and defeated the imitation bill, and
saved his country from that depre citation
of paper
AND GENERAL BANKRUPTCY
which was visited upon it by the same
measure under the administration OF his
successor, and when his term expired
peace existed with the Indians and profit
able commerce with Mexico; the credit of
the state was restored, and its currency at
par, and he retired to private life because
the Constitution of the republic did not
admit of second term. And amid all
the opportunities and temptations of
those turbulent times he came unpolluted
with the purest and most precious treasure
mortal time affords-a spotless reputa-
ton. But need 1 tarry to specify his
deeds? At the end of his successors term,
he was reelected our president, and while
in that condition he again restored the
credit of the state, the value of its cur
rency, and set on solid pillars the fabric
of a government that has grown steadily
from that day to this under wise laws,
rich legacies to education, to charities and
the infirmaties of mankind. Having pro-
cured our annexation, he represented this
state in the senate of the United States,
where he engaged in debate the greatest
intellects of his day and made a reputa-
ton so widespread and commanding that
he was brought forward by large portion
of the press of the country for presi-
dent of the United States. In the councils
of the nation he was an ardent defender
of the union, and believed that
THE DESTINY OF THIS PEOPLE
was indissolubly linked with fidelity to it.
But before / approach the last act of Gen
eral Houston's public life, deem it proper
to dwell for moment on his private life.
While his bitterest foes have never dared
assail his public career, and admit him
great, able and patriotic, still they attempt
to stain his reputation by imputations of
private vices. 1t is true, gentlemen, that
General Houston, after being stricken
down With that first great private sorrow,
did, for time, seek to drown its
memories in the wine cup. Bat l
lived for years in that section of the
state where he lived in later life, and
where he fiually gave up his body to the
dust and his soul to the God who gave it,
and from his old neighbors and associates
am proud to bear testimony that after
his marriage with that excellent lady, who
was the mother of his children and who
survived him, and especially after she be-
came an invalid, he yielded to the gentle
influences of her love, and surrendered
whatever of appetite or habit he had &C
quired, joined the church of God and
lived spotless private life, and on his in
valid wife lavished all the attentions and
affections OF his great noble heart. 1 have
been told that in his family relations he
was as gentle and tender as a woman. So
that in all that makes man great he was
conspicuous. In life's storms and tempests
he was the solid rock, and amid its peace
| full walks
CHE WAS SUNSHINE AND FLOWER"
In conversation he was the soul of humor
and the bright spirit of repartee. His abil-
tiles as a DICTATOR and as a criminal advo-
cate were not less than that of his com peer,
Felix Grundy. His style was robust,
graphic, vehement, full of rugged force,
and, when occasion required, he could
pour steady pillows of light, hang Jewel
on every glass blaze and saw the earth with
orient pearl" And many of his comrades
in arms can attest how freely he poured out
his abilities in aid of any Of them on whom
disasters came in after years, which called
for his eloquence to assert their innocence
or maintain their rights. l now approach
the most painful, the most conspicuous
and the most praiseworthy and illustrious
act of his life. General Houston was at
the outbreak of the war governor of this
state, still enjoyed the confidence and
wore the honors of his people. But he
differed from the majority of his country
men on secession, and, differing, dared
to proclaim and advocate the views which
were not the passing caprices of the mo-
ment,but the convictions of lifetime. He
had refused to join in the Southern
Address," had opposed the epeal of the
Missouri compromise, and in a speech
foreshadowing the tendency of events to
dissension and danger to
THE PEACE OF HIS COUNTRY,
he had said: 81 wish if this union must
be dissolved that its ruins shall be the
monument of my grave; wish no epitaph
to be written that l survived the ruins of
the glorious union." So, when the crisis
came, that grand old man, true to the sem
timents of lifetime, stood by the union,
but forsook not his state. Guided by
strong convictions, uninfu enced by fanati-
oism, undeterred by popular clamor,
defying the boot of the mob, Indifferent
to popular applause, he canvassed this
state for the union, appealing with all the
force of his eloquence to the patriotism of
MS countrymen, but all in vain. When
this state demanded his Office and expelled
him from her courts he maintained his
position, but spurned the offer of federal
aid to retain him in his Office, and, rather
than imperil the peace of his state by
faotional and internecine strife, he gave
up his honors, laid down his robes of office
and retired forever from the scenes of
public life. Gentlemen, speak of these
things with greater liberty because 1 had
IN that convention brother who voted
for secession, and who gave his life for the
Confederate cause, but who often spoke
with tears in his eyes of that unfortunate
conflict, for he was Houston's neighbor,
loved him and venerated him as
the highest type of spotless patriotism.
Would, Mr.. Speaker, that 1 could sanctify
these incidents by the veil of obscurity-
that mysterious veil by which time has
conseorated so much that is sad. But, sir,
1t Is history, and let Us, like men, look his