Sam Houston

[neferetus]

This thread is dedicated to Sam Houston. Post
your thoughts and/or knowledge of "The Raven"
on this thread.


Painting of Sam Houston on display in the State
Capitol, at Austin.

[neferetus]

After the revolution, when Sam Houston was berated for not having sent reinforcements to the Alamo, he noted: “The provisional government was in disorder—we had no constitution. Travis was sending for assistance—had none to give—had to make a constitution—no better than pirates without one. Signed the constitution on my birthday and had a great spree on egg nog that lasted two days!” When asked how he could give himself “so low a pleasure” with so much at stake, he admitted “It was a bad business. I hated it and repented of it.”

[neferetus]

Houston was alway one for the theatrics. When Mirabeau Bonaparte Lamar was elected to replace Houston as president of the Republic of Texas in 1838, Houston appeared at Lamar's December 10th inaugural dressed like George Washington, complete with powdered wig and tricorn hat. When he went on the stage and noticed that Lamar was very eager to give his speech, Houston lengthened his farewell address to 3 hours. This "so unnerved Lamar that he was unable to read his inaugural speech." It was given by his aide, Algernon P. Thompson, instead.

[seguin]

neferetus said:

Houston was alway one for the theatrics. When Mirabeau Bonaparte Lamar was elected to replace Houston as president of the Republic of Texas in 1838, Houston appeared at Lamar's December 10th inaugural dressed like George Washington, complete with powdered wig and tricorn hat. When he went on the stage and noticed that Lamar was very eager to give his speech, Houston lengthened his farewell address to 3 hours. This "so unnerved Lamar that he was unable to read his inaugural speech." It was given by his aide, Algernon P. Thompson, instead.

That´s hilarious! - and once he called Burnett a hog thief! ;D

[neferetus]

Here's an interesting letter from Sam Houston to President Andrew Jackson that pretty much spells out Houston's intentions for Texas. (From the sonofthesouth website)


To President Jackson.

NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA, February 13, 1833.

DEAR SIR: Having been as far as Bexar, in the province of Texas, where I had an interview with the Comanche Indians, I am in possession of some information that will doubtless be interesting to you, and may be calculated to forward your views, if you should entertain any, touching the acquisition of Texas by the United States. That such a measure is desirable by nineteen twentieths of the population of the province, I can not doubt. They are now without laws to govern or protect them. Mexico is involved in civil war. The federal constitution has never been in operation. The government is essentially despotic, and must be so for years to come. The rulers have not honesty, and the people have not intelligence.

The people of Texas are determined to form a state government, and to separate from Coahuila; and, unless Mexico is soon restored to order, and the constitution revived and reenacted, the province of Texas will remain separate from the confederacy of Mexico. She has already beaten and expelled all the troops of Mexico from her soil, nor will she permit them to return. She can defend herself against the whole power of Mexico; for really Mexico is powerless and penniless to all intents and purposes. Her want of money, taken in connection with the course which Texas must and will adopt, will render a transfer of Texas inevitable to some power; and if the United States does not press for it, England will most assuredly obtain it by some means. Now is a very important crisis for Texas, as relates to her future prosperity and safety, as well as the relation it is to bear toward the United States. If Texas is desirable to the United States, it is now in the most favorable attitude, perhaps, that it can be, to obtain it on fair terms. England is pressing her suit for it, but its citizens will resist if any transfer should be made of them to any other power but the United States.

I have traveled nearly five hundred miles across Texas, and am now enabled to judge pretty correctly of the soil and the resources of the country. And I have no hesitation in pronouncing it the finest country, to its extent, upon the globe; for, the greater portion of it is richer and more healthy, in my opinion, than West Tennessee. There can be no doubt but the country east of the Rio Grande Would sustain a population of ten millions of souls. My opinion is, that Texas will, by her members in convention on the first of April, declare all that country as Texas proper, and form a state constitution. I expect to be present at the convention, and will apprise you of the course adopted so soon as its members have taken a final action. It is probable I may make Texas my abiding-place: in adopting this course, I will never forget the country of my birth.

From this point I will notify the commissioners of the Indians, at Fort Gibson, of my success, which will reach you through the war department.

I have with much pride and inexpressible satisfaction seen your messages and PROCLAMATION touching the nullifiers of the south and their "peaceable remedies." God grant that you may save the Union! It does seem to me that it is reserved for you, and you alone, to render millions so great a blessing. I hear all voices commend your course, even in Texas--where is felt the liveliest interest for the preservation of the republic.

Permit me to tender you my sincere felicitations, and most earnest solicitude for your health and happiness—and your future glory, connected with the prosperity of the Union.

Your friend and obedient servant,

SAM HOUSTON.

[KelGercuh]

Sam Houston

Attachments:

[KelGercuh]

Sam Houston at San Jacinto.

Attachments:

[KelGercuh]

Sam Houston political cartoon.

Attachments:

[KelGercuh]

General Sam Houston.

Attachments: