The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-06
SAM HOUSTON IN 1861.


| Passing through the streets Of Hunts
vine In the summer OF 1861. you might has We
seen a gigantic old man. dressed in a large
flowing wrapper of cheap calico, with print
ed figures OF gsudy flowers sprawling over
IT. rough boots and a great Texas SOM
brero, originally white, now dusty and
stained. from the shadow OF which pair
OF piercing eyes, deep-set in a massive.
stern lined face, lcok with keen scrutiny
humorous. kindly. shrewd. When he
comes to the blacksmith shop opposite the
penitentiary (now inside the wallis, he
sits down slowly, Tits his hat back, and
taking big barlow knife out OF the pocket
of his worn Jeans pants, sets TO whiting;
crowd gathers around him-children, boys
and mentor this old man is a wondrous
talker. and he tells fairy tales to the little
ones, stories OF Indian wars and the bat
ties for Texas Independence TO the boys.
and stirring words OF National import to
the men Presently he has whitfield couple
OF blocks, like five pointed stars, out of
piece OF pine. and putting them in the
hand OF bystander, he says: There, take
those home to your wife; they win do veil
fer her to wind her yarn on" Then he
falls 10 more talking and whiting, and
out OF his whittling-as cut OF his words
and his work all through life-somethng to
the purpose sprlngs-a little box, pen-
holder. or a toy for the children-something
mele than mere shavings
his was Sam Houston--the man who de-
ff.raI
had twice been her president, once her
governor. and now so reverenced his con-
science that he could not find it right to
lead her sons in civil war. Fifteen years
bef,re, the spokesman OF n dozen tribes
OF Indians told him For us you have
been too subtle on the warpath, too pow
erfui In battle, too magnanimous in victory,
too wise in council, too true in faith "
The MeXicans might have said the same
thing. Houston with his little army of
$50 men opposed to ten times that number,
saved Texas from becoming a vast penal
colony Of Mexico. il was the ayowed pur-
pose q Santa Anna and Almonte to rid
the country Of the American population,
STOP further immigration, and COLOMBO it
with soldiers and convicts--one and' the
same thing, according TO the Mexican mill
ulry system.
IT. was the characterstic-rare even
among the men the world calls great-cf
being too true in faith" that forced Iious-
ton 10 retire from the post of governor.
Al he secession convention held at Austin
IN the early part Of 1861, the hour of noon
on the 10th OF March was fixed as the time
tot an state officers then in the city to :
take the oath Of allegiance to the Confed-
cracy Every one hoped that Houston in |
spite OF his open declaration that resist |
ahee u the Union must end in anarchy aud |
rum would assume the new obligations |
ana continue to be governor. But he never |
aPptal'd' ana e. w. Cave. secretary of |
state, and \. b. Norton, adjutant general, |
"elhllso absent On the second day. Lieu !
tent Governor Ed Clark entered upon his
duties as acting governor. and few days |
later Houston retired with his family TO |
his home In Independence. and soon after
wards moved to Huntsville. Here he lived
a quiet life for two years, and in 1868,
aller lingering illness, died at the old |
Steamboat house.
The motto Of Houstons life might we'll
nave been that OF cid Bishop Cumberland
us better to wear out than to rust out. " /
ms thrSe score years and ten were full |
ON action, The burden and heat of Il troub- |
lous day were borne by him proudly, I'M
comphinly, and like the strong man that |
no was. he rCjoiced to run his race Ne
hAd served the State of Tennessee for four
years in congress and had twice been her /
governor before he came to Texas Ealier /
man mat. he had won distinction in the .
creek wars under jackson. who was Lis
constant friend and admircr When he .
signed the Declaration CT Texas Independ-
euee AT washington on the Bra2os. he was .
~ years old Those were rough DAYS. Most
Of Texas Ht this period was primeval Wild !
erness, and on the frontiers Indians plumb |
ercd and ravaged increasingly. We have
'rcordS o. terrible Indian uilsSacres about /.
nis t'me In Lava and Limestone counties,
around fcTt Houston Cnow Palestinel. at |
.l'tle River in Bell county. and on the |
Nuces. During the ten years of the Re-
llupHc, the TeMs border from Calrksville To
torpus Christi presented continual scenes
OF savage raids, murder aud captivity of
women and children Yet Texas pros
pered, her population quadTupled the Lone
star nag was respected abroad. all nations
houored this gallant people--their patience
iertitude. patriotism and bravery. and no
man among them was more honored--no
man more deserved it--than Sam Houston.
There was gentle strain in this big.
ron framed warrior. He loved children
ana they loved him Ills influence over
men was remarkable. Witness that me-
moNhle scene before the battle of san la
INT, when tiouston's speech brought the
rough trontiersmen to tears On one oc- |
'aSion, while he was living in Huntsville
Or. Rufus C., Burleson was preaching here
IN temperance. Houston was A Raptist
ind enc Of the congregation that met in the
)lacksmth shop-thero was no church
hon-tu heer the sermon. Temperance was
rot popular subject especially with the
younger members of thu community and
heN showed their displeaSure IN II bv
showers OF stones on the roof of tho huild
nS Houston rushed cut and with ssrca
Energy denounced the disturbers. upbraided
rem and wrought within them such
ehse OF shame. that they silently followed
nm INTO the shop and listened to the SER
small proof OF his power
- some OF eur readers il will be note
worthy that sam Houston was one n, the
,tRanizers ~ the Masonic Grand I.o1ss ~
'eNas at Houston, In 1897, hv charter
'lanted by the Grand Lodge of louisiana ,
I WPS CONFESSED az three lodges: one M
>acocdr hes, one at Sim Augustine ara -,
ne Holland lodge OF Houston, and had .
membership OF about 200. "