Evening star., 1935-09-08
By John ClaeeH Proctor.

the Government, under the
Constitution, met at New York in
1889, but only one-so far as the
of having been President of another
country, and only one who had held
the rank of crown prince.
To Sam Houston goes the first honor,
he having been President of the Re-
public of Texas from 1885 to 1888
and again from 1841 to 1874. and who
became a United States Senator when
the Lone Star State was admitted to
the Union in 1845, and served until
that State. When the Civil War be-
gan, Texas sided with the South and
Gov Houston was deposed because he
would not take the Confederate oath
of allegiance. During the years 1861
to 1868, Texas was only represented
in the Senate of the United States,
and from 1868 to 1869 had no repre-
sentative at all in Congress. and was
under Federal military rule until
1870. Gen. Houston died in Hunts
vile, Tex. July 26, 1863, and is in
y
nURING part of his service in Con-
greSS, which also included two
terms in the House of Representatives,
from 1923 to 1927, Senator Houston,
together with his colleague, Senator
Thomas j. Rusk, resided at Browns
Hotel, on the north side of Pennsyl-
vania avenue, between Sixth and Sew
enth streets, more recently-and until
removed-known as the Metropolitan
Hotel. He also resided for while at
2107 Pennsylvania avenue, in one of
the six Buildings" which in 1900
was the Navy Office when Benjamin
Stoddert was the Secretary of that
department. Another early occupant
of this house was Gen. James Wilkin-
son, general in chief of the Army,
and John Francis Mercer, first presi-
dent of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
Co.; President James Madison, when
Secretary of State, and Richard Rush,
Attorney General, also lived there.
Before going to Texas Gen. Hous-
ton had been Governor of Tennessee,
but resigned this Office and moved to
the territory of the Cherokee nation,
now a part of Oklahoma. where he
remained for a short while. Texas,
In those days, was state in the Mex
ican Confederation, and only a place
for the hardy and venturesome, and
Sam Houston was not afraid to take
q chance or to shoot it out with the
other fellow, but somehow he did
manage to end life in peaceful way,
and died with his boots on.
But even in Washington his life
was not always a peaceful one. for
several years after leaving the House
him being haled into court during the
November term of 1882, charged with
administering felonious assault |
upon William Stanbery. Representa-
tive from Ohio, whom Houston accused
of stating in debate in Congress
that he-Houston-had accepted from
the Secretary of War a fraudulent
contract for Indian rations. Gov.
Houston was naturally riled, and
forthwith wrote letter to Mr.. Stan
berry, asking him it, upon the occasion
referred to, he had specifically re-
ferred to him by name. To this in
quiry Stanbery's reply was so evasive'
and unsatisfactory that the Cover
nor determined to take matters in his
own hand. and word to this effect
reached the ear of Representative
stanbery.
THEREUPON, according to an ac-
count written by F. Regis Noel,
Each party provided himself with
a pair of pistols and dirk; although
1t was in evidence that, when the
clash came, the Representative was
armed with single pistol and the
Governor with a young hickory walk
ing-stick. Thus armed, the parties
accidentally met about half a mile
from the Capitol, on Pennsylvania
avenue. on April 1. Mr.. Stanbery
crossed the Avenue from his lodging
and, as he stepped upon the pave
ment. the defendant inquired his
identity, which was admitted. Then,
said the defendant, you are the
damned rascal, and struck Mr.. Stan
berry with his cane, who staggered
back and lost his hat, while the ag-
gressor followed up, striking him.
After receiving several severe blows,
the Representative turned to 60, but
the defendant sprang upon him from
the rear, tripped him and continued
to beat him while lying on the
ground. Mr.. Stanbery attempted to
pull the pistol from his pocket and
shoot the Governor, but the pistol
would not discharge. was wrested
from his hand and he was beaten
until he ceased to speak and lay so
still that a witness thought he was
badly hurt, perhaps killed.
"Mr. Stanbery addressed COM
plant to the Speaker Of the House
and Gov. Houston was arrested and
admitted the facts, although he de-
MED that he intended to commit or
did commit any contempt toward the
House, any breach of its privileges, or
Of the privileges Of any Of its mem
bers. However. he was found guilty,