WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1826
63
CONCERNING EXPECTED TROUBLE WITH FELIX GRUNDY 1
Washington, 27th May, 1826.
In reference to the inclosed letter of Mr. Grundy, 2 and the matters alluded to in it, I can have but one opinion, and that I must confess is much more complimentary to his head than to his heart. He is the only man in the state of Tennessee, who has talents enough to embarrass me in this way. He has gre:it pe- culiarity of talents, which enable him to make tools of the veriest wretches that walk the earth- They are men, as timid as hares, ferocious as wolves, and servile as spaniels. They must be hissed on, and backed, and when even thus, and they have bro't the game to bay, they wheel around, and seek safety in flight! They are ferocious as wolves, because when they attack a defenceless individual, or can assail the reputation of one absent they will remorselessly suck the blood of honorable renown. They are servile as spaniels, because they cower to the look of an honorable man, and are silent, in the presence of of him whom they dare to defame when he was absent. They even growl at their master, when he has no whip in his hand- but when they see or feel the lash they are ready to lick the hand that h::i.s inflicted stripes. 'Tis thus that Grundy assails me! 'Tis by the use of such wretches that he seeks to accomplish his ends; in my destruc- tion, and once for all, if I fall by the hand of violence, I do enjoin on the community which I have served and loved, to visit those who have sought my ruin, with the last "dregs of the vials of wrath." My destruction is only necessary to the wicked-the virtuous love me and have pride & confidence in me. It is only those who hope to profit by my death, that wish me to be destroyed! An expression of Mr. Grundy, last summer to Mr. Balch in the hear- ing of John A Cheatham esqr., goes far to illustrate his prin- ciples. Mr. B. said, "Mr. Grundy, it is wrong that this difference shou'd exist between Gibbs, Eaton, & Houston-Gibbs is a man of family, I like Eaton, and Houston I have nothing against, the matter shou'd be brought to an amicable conclusion." Mr. Gundy's reply was, "Never mind, let them go on, if they all get .killed it will only make more room for the balance of us." Now why Mr. G shou'd wish me destroyed cou'd be accounted for, but that he should wish Gibbs killed is strange when he was in the habit of daily, almost hourly intimacy with him!
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