Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 42, Ed. 1, Wednesday, October 16, 1850 Page: 1 of 4
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T&S&tlfi-3 in aclvsiEice.
Published Weekly.
or 5 at the end oi tlie year
BY CRUGEE & MOORE.
HOUSTON, WEDNESDAY, CIOBER 16, 1850.
VOL. XV. N"().42.-:WH()LENO.?73
nwfc vnci - u i-.i i .hi
I'iMGRAPfi USD BfiOISTSR;
Published every Thursday, Main Street, Houston, by
CKUGER& JilOOUE.
TERMS
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are eonstifensl ts wisliir-s to continue their 5ulecri.tion.
'2. irubicribers order the ducontmumice of their pnpcrs.tlie
liabtUhjr may coatiaue to send tiiem till ail that is due be paid.
3 If 3abicribcr3 neglect or refuse to tate their papers from tho
office to which they are directed, they are held rcopon.iblclill
tii-v3iive5gtt.'ed their bill, aniordered their papers discontinued.
jbjjgSyJSirtiCHniasiiMiouiuniorajiDg
R!iaTRnhliJhe?iind:the,pagrIissentjto metorruerairecnoc, uiey
are held responsible. "
. 5 The courts have derated mat reiusin? io nse n paper r
periodical from the office, or removing, and tearing it uncalled
for, isprimi facie evidence of intentional fraud !
Jud"e Thompson, of Indiana, dsciJed recently. "That where
a subscriber to a periodical failed to notify the editor to di'ron
tmue the pncr, at ths end of the time for w Inch he subscribed,
or p'.y up the arrearages, he ivas tviand for another j ear."
A year ortwo since, the circuit court of Peiii.vlvan".n decided,
"Thst u here n Pot M-.sterfi'cJ to notify the pb!Mier, of
cswspipers.thattheir pajic-s were int nfte I or nken out the of-
fice, he rendered himself i'aWe for the subscription
Agsn.s for the Telegraph.
Sw,:te Palm. Austin.
6. T. LaughtoXj Clarksville,
Jxo. A. Bigby, Do.,
1L II. Dickson, Bonhnm,
J2 H. Dodd, Lick P. O.j Fannin county,
U. ZIattiiie!EN- Faris.
V. VV. Fain. Larissa, Cherokee county,
"' L. H. Gideon. Do., do.,
J. M. Goode, Marshall, Harrisen county,
T. Collins, Crockett.
., M. O. Dimon, Montgomery.
J. P. Bowles, Milam county,
J. Tocsev, Cincinnati, Walker co.
J. V. Copes. Columbia. Brazoria co.
THE BERBEit.
It was morningat Mcquinez. In a'large court
eommunicating with the garden of the hareem
were assembled all the dignitaries of the court.
A body of black troops lined each side of the
square. Four stalwart negroeloungd at a lit-
tle distance from the arciiway by which the k1-
tan was expected tc enter, t 'liiese were xthe ex-
ecutioners, the invariable attendants at a -ms-
hoaiuli or royal audience, who at a look from
rloii- i:i!.rr cnnld aoizn rhn iinfnr'tin:itr sub- i
iecc of the monarch s wrath, -and tos.ing him J
mto the air, let hi,, mil to as to break any pre-1 ",:5,a- ,,m "l " xi ...a iuuS : 4.m pm.-
MiiibMl num'jflr of lnmas. or to kill him out- ! penty. One i:uor, however, oi a uigrunV.j
rlht
In front of the arch were gathered the offi
oers of the court, the chief dignitaries of the
city, mingled with kaid- ami iicutenant kaiJs
l'roiu Morocco a:id Fez and h.isl.n-..- from the
provinces of coos and i'elile:. At a little dis-
- lance a group of four or five .lews in black
.O-nll.-in ?iil linrnnnsfi f(iwir.il ill flni,!i;l t lit '
'ttumlS bencattt the fierce looks of the ne-ro
uard '
to A striking contrast ras that between the in-1
.solent air of the! black barbarians from the J
farther sidj of the Sahara, and the subdued 1
voices and anxious looks of the iaroriuisn coar-
tjeH j
-May God orolong the life of the soltan."
whispered a btUhaw to the kaid of the gate,
"ha.-,:, thou heard in what mood it pieced j
his majeatT tt) rise this morning V
Alav the soltan life be prolonged." replied '.
the kai'd. -A eunuch just whispered me that j
it huil pleased our Lord the Shereef to rise with !
his t.woru in his teeth.' i
And the word passed throuah the group of !
anxious officials that something had gone wrong I
with his maj est v during the night and that !
probahlv mure "than one head would roll from ,
ifershoaidors in token of the soltau a dipleas-
nre ;
'n..- .. 11 j it. 1.
1110 .iit were inriiwn open, ;uiu uic &iui;iii
was seen on horccbaek in the middle of a fcmall -
court, beneath an umbrella of red silk, which
Avas r.nppor:ed on a long pole bv a. stalwart ne-!
gro The natural ugliness of this umbrella- j
bearer was heiglFtencd by innumerable scars, j
the marks of the cimeter with which his servi- i
ces had been frequently rewarded, when his j
master could find no one else upon whom to '
vent his wrath. Twe or three negroes, with j
half a dozen ren.-imriri fthristiiin lmrs. wnro in
attendance, but preserving an unusually respect-1
ful distance.
Muley lemael, the sixth monarch of the dy-
nasty founded upon the subversion of the Oa-
taze by the Shercefs of Tefilet. a family so
named because claiming descent from the.
Prophet, was at this time about seventy years
of age. Forty years of his liu he had passed
upon a throne, woic.j, liy his tal"iit and energy
he had consolidated out" of the p.tty kingdom-,
dtous. Morocco Kez, and Tefilet. Ota mid
die size -his frame, owinu; to his extreme tern-
perance. wa- still rigorous and active. Hc ,
couid mount Tis horso bv vaultimr. without as- .
sistancc. and could wield his cimeter if nor on !
the field of battle against his enemies, at b-a-t
in his own court, with a degree of skill and
. iorce that was peneetly satisfactory to his cour-
tiers and friends. His complexion was very dark.
-"mVmother having been nwoman4from Soudan,
-but his features inclined moro to the Moorish
than negro styh of face I is eyes, black, and
piercing, sparkled with intelligence, or gleamed
with the most ferocious malice, i'is mouth
was wide, and generally distorted by a sardon-
ic grin, while h;s toothless gums addfd to its dis-
agreeable expnssion, which w:is somewhat re-
lieved, however, by a snow white beard. His
dress was a plain white haick, beneath which
was it green caftan, and a pair of short wide
trou-ers of woolen Around iiis waist he wore
a sujeen sasu, ana a Morocco oeit stuu'leu witn ,
jewels, from which depended the scabbed of a ,
diamond nilted cimeUir Jo the terror of the I
courtiers it was noticed that the color of his j
sash was yellow, a sure indication tiiat the sol-!
tn-,wfts in no pleasant humor. Yellow slip- j
p"ors covered his feet and a voluminous turban ,
of fine linen surroundtd a hijrh pe-ikvd j. j
The iu-mnt. the ia-e.s rt-.-re thrown open the
soltan instead of moving tbrw ird witli niaitic
VXiVIIII Ulll V t4 uaw: Ltitfc. iiviiiu i.,t' aiiwni;-!
-. ......I.. it i rti.t... r,if nfiH1 ..,,. n .iii-a.1 .
.railWUlll'V t: ii iiaue ui.u v.u.uu i:.iw; uuimiri
us utnbr'-ll-j. bearer to keep up with him. struck .
lis spur- into his hor.-e andd.ie.i thron-h the j
iro'iw iy into the cour. ot .111.l1.muc at full speed. 1
HIS
his
aro'iw iv into the coui-i ot .i:i.lieuec at full speed.
Ah he pasvdthe gates h:-. horM- .swerved a Ih.- ,
tie.' bringing his majt-sry a foot slightly in con- .
"tact with the dress of onu of the gato kop.'rs
. "The soltan threw himself back in the -addle
his haunches, and holding forau in-rant hi-fore
ut unuuuv., ..,juM u .,. ...
tcetsu'-penueain tneair. ukpngir-imol ng:u. I
tliR imnerml .M.nf..r df-.-emlp,! nr.m. thn hiail I
feet suspended in the air. Liken gb-imofiiIit. I
of the unlucky porter, and fulled him to the;
earth The next instant the snorting barb leap-i
ed beneath the touch of the tremendous Moo
rish rowels right amid the trembling group as-
sembled in the court. And now was presented
oneof.those singular scenes which, when occur-
ring in authentic history, we read with Benti-
"irients of the most profound incredulity, forget
ting tJmt tlie possessor of prrdy Jc-poriu pow-
er is almost necessarily a madman.
-Long life and health to sidi ! May God pre-
serve riidi ' shouted with one accord the courtiers,-
at the same time prostrating themselv-3
to the ground, and crouching and cringing'
around the soltan, endeavoring to touch his feef
or to kiss his garments or the trappings of his
horse The soltan, howeer, kept his horse in
motion and his cimeter whirling, and it wan'
with no small expenditure of agility that his
courtiers contrived to pay their customary sal-
utations, and yet to preserve their bodies from
the horse's hoof or their necks from the steel.
As it w.-v, several turbans were already cutl
through, and a dozen haicks were stained Avitl
blood, when suddenly the soltan ehecked hit
horse, and sheathing his cimeter with a growl
of rage, he pas-cd his hands into the folds 04
his sash and drew out a paper.
"Traitors," he shouted, glaring round upon
his panting and terrified court. "Dogs! whos'
work is this? Who of you dared to sell himself
to the Berber I" and the old monarch shook the
paper with convulsive energy.
-Jvcad this," he exclaimed to an officer who
held the office of chief kaid of the gate.
. Theiaid advanced, iook the tfaner, ami after
rEirrgheKernf6Tlueamperial haick, hc read.
in a loud voice as follows :
'To the powerful Muley Ismael, emperor 0
Morocco, Soos. Tefilet, whom God preserve in
the paths ofjustiee and mercy. Know that thy
demand for more tribute than the fiee Am:v
zerg of the hills has of his own accord consented,
to pay is unjust. Know also that thy design to
rauigc the country of the Ait A moor is known
to me. Be warned in time and let there be
peace between us. I fear you not. and wi-di
you well, in token whereof I pin this paper with
my dagger to your pillow and not to your
heart.
"CASBIN EL SUBAII."'
What think you.' demanded the soltan.
when the kaid had finished: "whence comes
this 1 Who pinned that paper to my- pillow V
-May God forever preserve Sidi, but 1 know
not.'" replied the trembling kaid.
-Th;nk you it was the Berber chieftain him
self''
"God knows,' replied the kaid, falling upor
his knees.
"God knows:'but you do not."' growled tin.
soltan ; -and yet you are kaid of the gates."
,Muley Ismael glared round upon his cour
with the look of a turr selecting a victim, an
th-.'n raising his finger the four negroes dartc ,
up.in theprostrjrte and grovelling form of th
unfortunate officer.
"God is great and there is no God but God
may he lengthen the life of Sidi." exclaimed th
kaid . bur with the words in his mouth, his bod
was whirled aloft on the extended arms of th
gigantic negroes, and then da-died head fir.-
with mortal force upon the marble pavement.
The soltan stared for a moment with a gri
of maniacal rage, distorting his toothless mouth
upon the lifeless body of the kaid, while th i
courtiers began to elevate their voices in ex
Psinns of admiration of his justice and good
mem. and of a complexion that would hat 1
. 1 compared ior clearness, and witiicness witn tna
of the inhabitants of northern Europ?. stood;,
little aiiirt in silence. He either could not. 01
would not join in the sycophantic plaudits tha
were beginning to arise from all quarters of th -court.
!
J
A.s,the eyes of the monarch turned from th j
ho7 of the kaW; they foU upon the silent figui :
-1v ol the ka
' ne -v'oor-
"Ual1 '"' exclaimed the soltan, "Abdallah ilv
Aaken what tliiukest thou of the justice o
t'l bcreef .' , . '
PP"ove or disapprove, in answer to such
a question, it was well known to be attended
Wlth e(IU!l1 &&- and for a moment Abdallah'
stood without making any reply.
" lth a dppp-drawn yell of concentrated pas
s5-n- -v,1"i' li5U,:U",1 spurred lowtirds him. -Dog
EOn f,fa Christian! you. a descendant of theOm
myh f Andalusia!" he shouted, and, raisin
h,s wor(J-let jt " Wlth ful1 force uPn th
nea" tue 00r w- as "c bladfe descended
received it without moving from his tracks
Luckily the thick turban afforded a partial dt
fencc: but stl11 .th keen 8teel eleft tlie scalr
and- slnncxnR. inflicted a deep wound in th
of the .Moor.
nouu-r 1 n miotu useit. oy uie lorce ot tli
blow, whs wrenched from the sultan's hand, an
fli r fill". ,nniiiHtanio nn flip nnvomnnf
,,,,,, r... ..
Qn:e.ly Abdallah turned took a few step'
P"cJ"e:1 UP the sword, and deliberately wipe
the -loody blade upon his haik. He tlien ar
vanced to tiie emperor, who sat motionless ur (
an'hl6 uorse. and presenting the hilt, bowed h
be?1' j
"Cod 15 Gbd."' exclaimed Abdallah, -anl
6um" t to mY &? at hls hands, and at the ham j
f the-Shereef. '- ,
Mtilcy Ismael, although one of the most SU' !
picious. irritable and cruel tyrant.-- that eve
filled a throne, had his moments of ireneroit'
From tlie extreme of passion it was no uncoiii!-
mon thing for him to pass to the extreme !'
kindness and condescension. :
Receiving the cimeter. he returned it to i j
sheath and then unbuckling the belt, handt j
it back to Abdallah.
i'prt'ive this.1' t-aid the soltan: "oh. wort!
d-semdant of the royal Onirneyah ; may Go
restore i-ieir .tynaity 10 ine inrone 01 uoruova
receive it as a token of our satisfaction th?
there is at least one brave and honest man i
our court
Abdallah bowed himself to the stirrip of tl
sol'an and kissed his foot Mulev Ismai
placed his hand upon the Moor's head, and ra
sing it. exclaimed in a loud voice -Long life t
Abdallah ibn Asken, Chief Kaid of the gates !
This is no invention. The incident actual!
occurred, and the whole scene, as da-scribed. .,
much within the bounds of historic truth.
UKV. riOPSTON'S RKPLY,
M'id' in the Senate on the ') nil. in 1 1.
a a'.'c.if Gi:n. Witlace, of 6mUli CaroUntt.'
On iVni. la-. I ruvt n)tirt th.it to da 1
n iml :.i.m '!. inilii "eticc .i' tin- .Senaie 1 1
niJ:. a peraon.il . ii.ttt.. unit uMr:l.t t
fMI1J clm vvh,(.h h;iV(J , rcnp
. t. .1 1 .. .
af1'"8'. tm I! PPVr- ir""' thi' ,,,l,p o ,h
atcii-a!mn that it tirigiimird in lh Hoshp ,
IleprcMMitalive?. and the initials iudicait lha
the iti'lividu-i' who originated the charge wa
;t unMiiber of 'hal liotly. I lmvi bfcn acni-
1 nctl ad tnv ! fo, until ihv meridian, U u- vet
w,.,( aU0i ilII(i j h;iV(, s,,!,,,,,! . ,)r ,.,.,
'
i, .., i,,i ,, . t . .t : ! 1 I
. ' "r,'
'"'" ,; tiv:i ,JP n "- li"1 lI1.V -iti.ni
"' ,,ni" a:,I ,"' relations I e;n to tin-, b-itrj
'l- ,v''' a- Jfi Am. rn-.m ptoilf..itid iJh rela
kj -v'ii hi l..vt-;.- e'.-loi.-h-rut'! . the f .mn
try m ,lii . iji-s .-, - in-1. (ii-Mi.nitl nfui
,'ti0 j, j. ., al..,u ,,,, , pajj usiroirar
ni.,K j, IllJltCI- III -OH,-.
egi.
t h.iv
o cases ol anv km 1. 1 h.iv
, 1 . ., r .
Wciy-aVoiL'.l .hem, 1 have all-ked th
r-put.nbrii il u. individual up to this time i
) ''h. bu hav- ..IVn trv oIUmi. been th
sultject ofa:i tittack I am glad Unit on th
occasion I atn not the assailant of any one
but i claim the right of repelling unfouude
accusations which may be inadt against me
Cul'Mj'afi'd to affijit nv tp.i! i'i"ii - tf a
it t fonnt'i 'od v ifl "h t t ;,,--, n'
1 ha; e aelduin during the aCsSiuii, ootid Je
I myself upon the Senate ; and as we aie now
drawing towards a close, as I hope, of out-
labors here, I am the more reluctant thai my
private matters should occupy one in-uncnt of
the precious time of this body. Neverth.-
less, Mr. President, from the cireums anccs
which surround this matter the individual
who makes these charges not being known to
me and it appearing from the character of
the piece published in the Southern Fies.
upon which I amabout to comment, that the
grounds oft he attack are founded in something
that occurred in 'he Senate, I feel it incum-
bent upon me to notice the matter here. I
have been for twenty four years-, I thii.k
connected with deliberativebodiesjoccasioually
and those of dignity and importance. I think
it is twenty-six or twenty-seven years sin e
I entered the House of Representatives as a
member. I have frequently in the Siale in
which I dwell, been a member of delibera-
tive bodies, consultations, conventions and
congresses, and I believe I have never yet
Violated a rule of decorum in my lite, and
that I have never b?e;i called to order for a
supposed violation. Had !, on the occasion
referred to, used any expression unworthy of
my station and the set-peel due lit this Initioi-
able bod)', 1 am satiiiicdtii.it g"ii!lfni'-ii lieie
members from Use State of South Canliiia,
wou.d have been as ready to detect an)
outs age done to an ab.-ent member f tha:
com sniuify which they icpresetit, or io the
distinguished deceased which tias been drawn
into this matter, as any gentleman upon earth.
Their sense of honor, of delicacy, of propri-
ety renders them even fastidious-y tenacious
of the honor of, their State and of its citizens.
It would have been the duty of the President,
and of every member heie, to call me to or-
der, had I violated the Miles of decorum bj
an)- lelleetion which would have caused thiii-
resentment or reprobation iu any for:.) what-
ever. The charges, sir, to which I would call
tjie attention of the Senate, are embodied in
certain interrogations propounded by the ind.-
vidual to whom I have ailuded.
After cone'.nditig his ad.liess to the editor,
he says "I will nowpiopotmd some interrog-
atories directly to the individual ;" and in
propounding them he pinceeds to say:
"I ask you, sir. did or did not Mr. Madison
soonafter i'ie buttle of the Horseshoe, appoint
you to the ollice of sub Indian agent for one
of i he southern tribes?"
In answer to that, Mr. President. I will say
that Mr. Madison did not appoint me to any
office. Undi r the administiation of Mr. Mon-
roe, on tlie 29th of September, 1817, I was'
appointed by Mr. George Graham, aciirig
Secretary ol War, to the office mentioned.
"Did or did not you hold this office until
Mr. Monroe came into power, and Mr. Cal-
holm under him as secretary of war ?"
This is a u-eiess que-tion as it has been
alteady answered, and has no bearing upon
the subject. I was not remaining in office
when Mr. Monroe came in. I was appointed
during his administration. He goes on:
"And did or did not Mr. Calhoun eaine
you to be removed from the office of ub-Iu
dian agent for malfeasance in office? Mark
the word, sir. I say "malfeasance." i
should not consider in altogether in good taste
to use another word with wjieh all are fa-
miliar who are acquainted with the terms of
the criminal code. Will you, sir. give a di
rect answer to these interrogatories, without
resorting, to your ti-ual prevarication. Del-
icacy still resists the expression. The pub-
lic will be grateful, doubtless, Io hear your
re-ponse."
Well, sir, I never was removed from any
office. 1 have taken some trouble I have
no doubt jhe cleiks think so to have the
archives ofthe country ransacked for tliiily-
seven ypars back, and to hunt up those le-
cords which bear upon the subject. My
track is remailvably clear ; there is not a
brush in it not one It is quite smooth.
From the time I entered the army as a pri-
vate soldier in the ranks on the "24'h of
March, 1914, up to the 1-t of March ldlf.
I never had a mail; again--! me. If 1 had
marks, ihey were snd.-ks made 'y the eneinv
upon my body, and not i:pn sim escoichei.n.
ueer was a defaulter I'm ain amount.
I was incapable of iiiaileas.ince. A-atib Indi-
an aneiit, I have to exhibit high au'.hnriM
for my character and conduct, ft has hot
heretofore been prornulgfd to the world, be
catwe 1 did not seek it. I rely upon no lie
tii-'otis advantage, sir. I have depended up .ti
no helps but those which fio fiom public
opinion. If I have received those, sir, ihe
approval of my fellow citizens will never be
indifferent to me, and I should be ungratePil
ifldidnnt vindicate that chaiacter whi'-h
they have accorded to me.
The office of sub-agent was utrlooked for
by me; it was unsolicited. I was at th-it
tune laboring under a wound, and had been
tor four ) par-, and was unable, as many be
lie.ved, to encounter the dilheu.iies ami ep.i
.-tires -which I must nece-aiily encounter
in the active dttiies of sub. Indian agMit, in
inciting the Indians to a removal west of (h-
Mississippi. But because tt seemed to pro
mote the interest of the government, and to
contribire to the great woil; of pacification
bv quieting the feelings of the Soinh fr
Georgia was not unconcerned and Tennessee
was atixiou- to occupy and enjoy her char-
tered limit-: I was unwilling, as.this la-t wa-
my adopted Stale, to make sacrifices in hei
behalf, for the promotion of . great object.
Well, it was the business of General Jack-
son to supervise this matter. He had been
a commissioner for negotiating the treai) ;
and a- he was the chief of the southern di-
vision of the army of the United State.-,
he had a general oversight ofaffaiis con-
nected with the Indians in that section
of the cotni'ry. Indeed, I believe he wa-
eng.igetl in negotiating more treaties with
the Indian tribe- than ani. other iiidiMthin
within mi knowledge. It wa- in iepi to a
letter of Mr. Graham, iu leiceiice to trie
tteaty of 117 C-i-'Hic leigi being a -u-peranuaied
gentleman a man of ihe levoiu
lion, and unable to perlbiin the dutie, so thai
it was thought a j'oimger man should be se-
Jected for this duly that General Jackson
held Ihe hdiowwing language:
"I beg leave to rccomend Lieut. JSam H.nis
ton, of the first infantry, as a young man ol
sound integrity, who has my entire confidence,
and who is in every way capacitated to fill
the npp.-in'io nt ; and I fi-.-i . -t.it.!. i
I.i'mi'. H h - -.hi' . ti '. i
meal iui a seeie uuu no jeieituu in iao
I
service, which, mav be considered as a dis
ability."
This was the language of a letter of Gen.
Jack-on. of the dale of the 2Gfh of Airzttst.
IS17. In consequence of that letter, I io-
cei'-ed a c- :nm:-sion bearing date the 29ih oM
S pt'-mber, 1817. Subsequent to that time,
Mr. Graham, in writing to Col. Meigs, ihe
agent, says:
"Your presence among them (the Indian-)!
will no doubt have a veiy happy elleet ; but ,
I hope the necessity for remaining long among .
them will be obviated by the presence ofLtctii.
Houston, who has been appointed b) the
recommendation of General Jackson, and
who, I presume, you will have met with upon
)our arrival at the agency."
1 w'tis then, sir. in discharge of my duties
when Governor McMinn arrived Gov. Mi -Minn
remained for some time as superin-
tendaut of Indian affairs within the limits op
Tennessee, which office he hold ex' officio. In )
writingaio the Secretary of War, Mr. Calhoun.!
on the 29:!i of December, 1817, he says, in
speaking of in ! resistance that was uride t
to the policy of the government in leiatioi.
io the object ol' emigration : j
'Tin- first device was that the Cherokee :
light hoi.-e shotiid wiest the properly from iht-
cmigianfs. which wa-gien So them Iy the-
UtMteil Slates and apply it as a consideratiot.
f the debts. c n traded by the emigiaists it
she year p.i-t. So soon as this ptojict a
cmiuniniscnted, i i-Mted an older forbidding
aii -uch ui.ctnpi-.. atitl rfec'aied that I wouie
view it in the light of ho-tiluy against the
United States, ami would pui;i-h the perpetra
tors. Accordingly, Mr. Houston cirried this
oider into eflect, with a prompt ttu.'le not less
characteristic of his integrity and zeal than
zeal for his country, by attesting the firsl
offender, who returned the propeity without
a moment's hesitation. The course taken
upon this occasion had the happy effect of dis
per-ing a band of legai robbers."
This, sir, is an evidence that thn-e tindei
whoso I acted, had a particular confidence in
me. Iiut I will show you fiom the record-
that there was no act of malfeasance connec
ted wiih my service. I will show that I re-
signed my office as sub. agent: and afterwards
returned to civil life, so lhatno removal coulc
have taken place. And though my iisigua-
tion cannot be found in the War Departmeni
for I am told that that is tho case, though
certainly it was theie I have the testimon)
of Col. .Meigs, and there are yet living wit.
tie.-ses to that fact. I know not why the
resignation had disappeared from the reccord-
of the War Depart-nent. I hope the charge
against me thai I was removed from office
will not be considered as corroborated by the
fact of the disappearance of my resignation.
General Jackson, at the time I went to the,
uation, in writing to Col. Meigs knowing
that he was feeble and had many difficulties
to encounter, and after adverting to various
lentous why it was"" proper he should have
an assistant says :
"For this reason I have recommended Lt.
Houston, of the first regiment of United State-
infantry, as a fit person. In him I have ful
confidence, and in him you will have a friend
cleat of design or deceit, on whom you can
rely under all and even circum-tance, com-
petaut lo aid you in every respeci."
Fite years 'of my life had passed under the
eye of Gen. Jackson, as a sub-ordinate offi.
cer ; ami at the time I was appointed fo the
stib-ludian agency. I wa discharging the du
lies of a clerk, detailed for extra duty in the
office of the adjutant general of the southern
division, still acting under ihe eye of Gen.
Jackson. Do ou believe lie would h:-
pledged himself for a man as young as I tl .
was as obscure as I had been a man vh
had neither wealth, power, nor influence to
back him who had climed up the steep from .
a stiboidinate position who was then in the
dawn of life can you believe Gen. Jackson
would have thus pledged himself that I was
without guile and deceit, unless he had be-
lieved that the five years' probation in ser-
vice was a go d guarantee for my future con-
duct ? Why, sir. these recent emotions
that we have seen, charge me with everything
chatge me wit. a design to a-sassmate
D r
wliethet it is the person oi character I know
no! I have neier threatened or thought ol
-ii-h a thing. I have essayed" to do eilhei
the one or ihe other ; and all I ask of my ad-
v i-anea in life is, not to assa-s.nale me when
iiiy back is turned. I have met aii my ad-ver.-
tr e- that nave arrayed themselves against
up i have vaulted nothing, nor do I vauttt.
It is onl) di-eh-irging a duly devolving upon
me. and in an tin-ought for necessity.
Well, sir. I retired from this, as I will show,
to private life. It did not suit Col. Meigs and
Governor McMinn. when 1 resigned, after I left
here. ongress introduced and enacted a law
reducing the number of agents, and the
salaries of sub-agents, and gave Col. Meigs
notice of it; and through him I was apprized of
it. as the extract from a letter from Air. Cal- J
houn will show. He says to Col. Meigs, under
date of April 22, 1848:
Vou arc requested to inform all sub-agents''
(I was the only one) -attached to your agency
that their conipensatian is fixed at five hundred
dollars a year from the 20th instant, and that
they will continue to perform all the duties
heretofore assigned them."
Upon this intimation 1 quit. My salary,
which had formerly been equal to thirteen
hundred dollars per annum, was reduced to
five hundred dollars. Col. Meigs, in writing to
Mr ! lea-anton, the Auditor, says wheu speak-
ing of mc:
"When he received the information of tho
alteration of the salaries of Indian agents, lie
resigned his appointment as sub-agent, and
went to west Tennessee.'
It appears, Mr. President, that after I had
retired to private life I was not exempt front
annoyance, either fancied or real. The govern-
ment owed me a salary as first lieutenant
from October to the fir-t of March. My ac-
counts had not been settled. It appeared in
the account of the Indian agency that tho
quarter I had drawn in advance in Washington
had not expired, and that a balance of som
sixty-seven dollars remained unpaid to that de
partment -a balance, as it appeared, ol sixty-
seven dollars aud some cents against me
However, the government gave notice of that,
as soon as may whereabout was learned --am,
my location was not in a corner and direotiot:
was given to sue me for the sixty-seen dollars
The Secretary at the same time, was apnrizet
by my forwarding my account: that the gov I
eminent owed me a balance of several months
pay as lieutenant. The account was rejected
and the suit was ordered to be institute '
against mc forthwith, and I remained for year i
upiW r't' chart" of 'Inn ftu'- t wh.-n th
. .i i - ' ti' -ii u 1 me ty
-u.p..sj
rough
J this was dono upon t ie principle, thou
know not why, that it is easier to crush the
egg than it is 40 destroy the adder. It might
be that some day. if permitted in a country as
prosperous and as well adapted to enterprise
as this. I might make some little mark on the
t::nes: but the youth, unfriended by a gratuitous
offering of manly friendship, unbought. unbrib-
cd. and uncomnianded. might easily be ruined
by the brand of a defaulter.
But. sir. it was uimailing. In 1S21, when
my accounts had been repeatedly sent on for
adjustment, and when 1 debited myself upon
the face of them with 07. without investigat-
ing the item at ail, an order wao issued for the
apparent balance, in which the Second Auditor
says:
"You will please to institute suit without de-
lay. Mr. Houston's residence is said to be in
western Tennessee. '
Well, sir. the suit was instituted; and what
was the result? In the mean time Ihad become
a man of note. I was major general of two
thirds of the militia of the State of Tennessee.
My name wjisicanvassedJieiore-the-people with-
out opposition to a seat in Congress. The peo-
ple were kind to me They were generous.
1 had associated with them in hours of peril
and days of trial. We had formed a wall of
fire along the frontier against the savage ene-
my and 1 was not forgotten in my days of
humility. The tables turned, sir. Ajrain Mr.
Lee, in sending an order to Mr. Pleasanton,
says:
"In April, 1S22. a claim of Sam Kou3ton,
late sub-Indian agent, for 237 01, having been
sanctioned by the Secretary of War. the sum of
07. 52, for wiiich he was reported for suit on
the 28th of November last, is accounted-for;
but the balance due him will be withheld until
I am apprized thro gh you of his having dis-
charged the costs of prosecution."'
A novel way of doing business! If I would
pay the costs. I should discharge myself from
tho reputation of a defaulter. f Laughter
Then here is my balanced account, 115 it ap-
pears upon the hooks of the Treasury depart-
ment; and it was due me from 18 IS until
audited and settled in April, 1822. Two hun-
dicdand fifty-one dollars were duo me as
lieutenant at the time the suit was ordered,
and it was withheld for four years.
Then, in addition to that, an item was ad-
mitted for a horse I mean that with which I
conducted the delegation lo its destination.
This was $30. which was allowed for transpor-
tation, as the Government did not furnish me
with a horse. That was approved by Mr.
Calhoun in 1824. for he says:
Gen. llonston not being bound to furnish a
horse to perform the journey, the charge for the
use of the horse is allowed.
This made in all 287 02. and this is an evi-
dence of my "muifetvance"' in office. There is
no evidence of bad faith here. 1 feel that if I
have not vindicated myself, truth, that is
omnipotent, has vindicated me.
From the day of enlistment in 1813 up to the
present day, in all my connexion with the gov-
ernment there is not a jot or tittle that can be
brought against me. I hope, so far as I am
concerned about this matter, I have shown that
there was no justification for the charge, and
no foundation for it.
" It remains an inquiry, sir. to sec how this
charge come up at this period? Whence could
it have circulated Where could ic have
nestled all this time, now to be brough forward
as a charge against mo1 It may in part be ac-
counted for from the fact that may be scea in
this communication to the Southern Tress."' It
Bays:
I have to inform the Senate, however, that
there arc few beyond the limits ofliis acquain-
tance who are more intimately acquainted with
i his history than lam. It is certainly the pri-
vilege of all to be familiar with the lives of
great men even in their own conceit."'
It has been my misfortune of late to some ex-
tent I have never complained much about it.
for I got along verywell. having a good consti-
tution and a hearty temperament but I must
confess that individuals in Soutlf'Carolina. who
profess such a thorough knowledge of my char-
acter, are sometimes at fault: and when attack-
ed about a year or a year and half since, and
threatened with the exposure of the contents of a
diary of forthcoming history going into private
relations and every thinr else, really I had not
thought I had become, for the last twenty-five
years, a man of sufficient importance to form
even an item in the diary forthcoming history
by any literary or distinguished gentleman of
the present day. I have never dreamed of it. sir.
To be known to history is rather astonishing
to me. I have not aspired in that way. I really
distrust the correctness of this information of .
individuals, when they bring such charges as
this that I havejustmet. There is no portion of
piy life, perhaps, that might not have been
somewhat improved, gilded, or embellished.
But still, sir. considering the hard mode of life
through which I have passed, the various rub-
bings through which I have squeezed, and all
these matters. I. perhaps, have as little to re-
gret as a number of others: and I can only say,
in the charitable language of Holy Writ, "Let
him that is without sin among you cast the first
stone." The relations, sir. that I have borne
to the Indians as an exile, grew not. out of the
happiness of early days; b'ut they were not
blighted by the frost of regret, nor was there
reason for the blush of shame to come upon the
honest man's cheeks. I was in exile, house-
less, and ti wanderer, but I left no trace of
obloquy behind me. I thought there was work
to be dono among the civilized men; and cir-
cumstances that are notorious in this capital in-
duced me to seek an a-ylum, asucceedaneum.Jin
a distant land. From thence 1 am now here.
It is a reincorporation with a community of
which I once formed a part, and I bring with
mo an endorsement of a gallent people, gener-
ous and faithful to the Union. I assail no man's
reputation. I would not be so low as to think
of propping myself, and breaking my fall, by
seizing upon J upiterTonans feet to hold by.
Laughter. On my own foundation I will
stand and look with the confidence of an honest
man
It is supposed, I see. that I have assailed the
memory of Mr. Calhoun. Sir. I lot the dead
rest in peace. If they have harmed me, the
grave forms an impas-ablc harrier, through
which ccscntments could never find thqir way.
When he was living, and a" member of this body,
though not upon this floor but indisposed, and
when I was re-ponding to denunciation, I for-
bore to cast the slightest reflection upon him.
because he was not face to face with me. I re-
flected not upon him He has" now finished
his work, and gone to another world. And
should I cast reflection upon his memory?
Never, sir. I would hallow and consecrate it if
I could. If he had errors. I would rectify them:
and if hc had faults, I would bury them with
him. hjcould not conjure them up to injure
theTeclius of those that survive. 1 would not
pursue him with a bitter hatred, important as
it would be: and a man that would indulge it
is to b pitied indeed But. sir. if death has
consecrated his memory, his acts, his writings,
and Ins opinions are subject to criticism and
to be canvassed as those of all illustrious men
that have gone before him have been. They
are for posterity. These are to be transmitted
to living men. Splendid talents must pass
away, and the historian's pen must record facts
as indelible as time for the monition of the
future
It is said 'iat f would better ouif until : an-
sw.r ! o- 'i f 'os. . or '; ' ' m
'u 'i ri . o in 1 ' p m 1 . .- . is-
wered, and I may croak a khttm now. Laugh
ter. About South Carolina,5 I have already
said that no individual appreciates more highly
than I do that State, illustrious in tfie revolu-
tion, illustrious for her heroes, her statesmen,
and her orators. That State has produced dis-
tinguished men, anil is as patriotic as any other
State. I could say nothing against it In-
dividually, sir. many of the gentlemen from that
tate will, whom I had been acquainted have
commanded my love and admiration, f do not
in this intend to endorse all, but I speak of
gentlemen with whom I have had the pleasure
of an acquaintance. I have received the
courtesy and hospitability of South. Carolina, -and
some endeared friendship yet lingers there.
I cannot but appreciate it properly. What L
have said was calculated to reflect, not upon
South Carolina, not upon her generous chivalry,
not upon her people or citizens. I have said
that I did deplore some little defects inher con-
stitution, not that I did not appreciate all its
excellences, but that I thought poorly of its
defects. jSave and escept,thatono whisper -or
lisp-'has rieverpassed my lips adverse to the
character of South Carolina or her institutions.
I have said that I deplored th misfortune that
hercitizens andfgallant sons were not all equally
priviledged. that there were property discrim-
inations and qualifications there that did not
exist in other States, and certain restrictions
upon the right of suffrage. For instance' no
citizen there unless a representative, evervote&
for Governor of the State or for elector of Presi-
dent of the United States. This has, to my
apprehension, placed the citizens of that. State
who are not in representative character in a
condition below the proud sons of other State3
all around, and the slaves-that till their soil.
The right of Sufirage was restricted, and it was
not given to them in liberty equal to- the citizens
of other States of the Union: and this I regret-
ted. Thus far have I bpoken of South Caro-
ina. Now, sir, I have no better right to speak of
union than any other man : but when my histo-
ry is so well known to others. 1 may speak a
little in reference to it myself. I have expe-
rienced a little of the inconvenience of being
out of the Union. Others more blest, more hap-
py, and more distinguished, whose current has
run smoother than mine, have enjoyed the ben-
efits of union always, and have felt the priva-
tions of detachment. But I have known what
it is to live from under the broad aegis of the
Union, and witheut tho protectng care of the
constitution. I have felt the oppression- when
the armed myrmadons of power, subject to its
control, endeavored to sweep over as fair a land
as there is on this continent. Then, sir. union
would have been a glorious thing. Then I
learned to appreciate it in its absence: and the
contest then going on never terminated in my
heart until we were members of the Union, and
coequal with the other States. I do appreciate
the Union, and I congratulate it upon this aus-
picious day. I congratulate the Senate. I con-
gratulate the American people. I congratulate
the people of all nations who look to-this Union
as the asylum for the oppressed. It is a day of
congratulation and joy, when we see harmony
and he light spreading through the land as fast
as the wires can transmit the thoughts and in-
telligence of men. They are expressing con-
gratulation and joy ; and ought not we to feel
that it is an auspicious moment ? What would
be the condition of the men, who would raise a
parricidal hand against the Union ? Desperate
and despicable must he be who would not de-
fend our banner who would not delight in ral-
lying around the symbol of our institutions
who would stand back upon such an occasion,
and prove recreant to its interests. Sir, the
man who would now conspire against this Union
is more culpable than Benedict Arnold ever was
whose name, notwithstanding all his high im-
pulses of patriotism, is consigned to eternal ob-
loquy and shame. He had high impulses : he
ws.3 a gallant man; his chivalrous deeds shone
forth in his life before the brand of treason blas-
ted his fame. Yes. sir, Benedict Arnold had
been a persecuted man. Four major generals
were appointed over him. "whilst he was seen,
with scars upon his almost mutilated body.
And when his feelings were harrowed, and his
tenderest affections wore drawing him to trea-
son, still he gallantly resisted, until overwhelmed.
Sir, in his course there were, as I say. high
impulses of patriotism. He would, if he could
have been other than what he was : but destiny
had driven him to the wall, and he had ho al-
ternative but disgrace, shame, and mortification.
He had been overslaughed by men inferior to
himself, and he felt that he had no alternative
but destruction and disgrace. The man that
will now, when e have around, about, above,
and beneath us all the joys that spring from
union, all the glories that adorn our country's
name the admiration ofthe world peace,
prosperity, honor and domestic peace at home
the man that would now attempt to raise the
parricidal hand to" destroy all these, and urge
disunion per se. will never stand a fair compar-
ison with the fame of Arnold, but must sink
below in the scale. And, sir. when assailed
hereafter because I am faithful to the Union, it
is no claptrap matter with me. I have evidence
innate of it. I would rather not to be than
to be without a country: and without Union we
have no country we can have no"home.
A Sultan's Joke. An incident, which occurred
oon after the accession of the present Saltan, shows
that in so mo respects, at least, be is not indisposed to
follow up the strong traditions of his race. At the
bejtnnijg of his reign, the Ulema was resolved, if
po sible.to prevent the new Sultan from carrying on
those reforms which had ever been so distasteful to
tlio Turks, grating at ouce against their religious as-
sociations and their pride of race, and which recent
events had certainly proved not to be productive of
those good results anticipated by Sultan Mahmoud.
To attain this object, the Muftis adopted the ex-
pedient of working on the religious fears of the youth-
ful pnnce.
Oue day, as ht was praying, according to his cus-
tom, at his father's tomb, ho heard a voice from be-
neath reiterating iu a stifled tone the words, "1 burn.'
The nxt time that he prayed there the same words
assailed his ears. "I bum" was repeated again and
again, and no word beido. He applied to the chief
of the Imams to kuow what this proaigy might mean,
ant! was informed, in reply, that his father, though a
great man, had also been, unfortunately, a great re-
former, aud that as such it was but too much to bo
fearfd that he had a terrible penance to undergo in
the other world. The Sultan sent his brother-in-law
to pray at tho same place, and afterwards several
oilier.- of hi household ; aud ou each occasion the
samo portenteutotis words were heard.
On day he announced his intention of going in
state to his father's tomb,aud was attended by a
splendid retinue, including the chief doctors of tho
lUahonfetan law. Again during his devotions were
heard the words, 'I burn," aud all except the Sultan
trembled. Rising from his prayer-carpet, he called
in his guards, and commanded them to dig up the
pivement aud remove the tomb- It was in vain that
the Muftis interposed, reprobating so great a profana-
tion, :iid uttering lradfiil warniug as to its conse-
q i-uces. 1 lie -iniuiip.Tsisiea. 1 ne tounuaiiousoi
the tomb were lata bar, ami in a cavity sktlliully lett
aitiotig them was lound not a burning Sultan, but
n l)rvi-e. Thf younj monarch regarded htm for a
time fixedly and in silence and then said, without any
further remark or tho slightest expression of anger,
"Y01: burn. x We must cool von in the Bosphorus."
In a few initiates more the Dervise was iu a bag and
the bitg immediately after was in the Bosphorus.
Dc Vere's Sketches of Greece and Turkey.
The World" s Fair. The preparations at London,
for tb -rp , x'i tvt'-n in l5."?'. of th"industrv of the
vv.i'l Z 1 tae greatest
or'1 ' 'or th'S
pa 1 ...x. i - -v ' -nt?, cost
half a million of dollars. The edifice ia to cover 18
-A -r5fe- t
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Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Moore, Francis, Jr. Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 42, Ed. 1, Wednesday, October 16, 1850, newspaper, October 16, 1850; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48604/m1/1/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.