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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1832-1853
named by the Maine Governor as one of three commissioners to determine and run the northeast boundary of the State. In 1823 he had married Sarah Ann Gilman, but she died in 1829, leaving him with two young sons. In 1832 he married Mary Stevens Russell, daughter of General Edward Rus- sell who had come to Texas with the Edwards colonists and had bought large acreage of land. In 1839, General Russell sent his son-in-law to Texas to look after this land in order to make his titles clear. Colonel Norton was so well pleased with Texas from all points of view, that he determined to make it his home provided his wife would consent to remove with him to the newly settled land. They settled in Montgomery County at Bayou City, and there Norton practiced his profession-law-for one year. He then removed to Houston, at which place he practiced law, was postmaster of the town, and later was appointed District Judge of that district. He died in 1860. Davis and Grobe, New Encyclopedia of Texas, IV, 2312-2315, gives a fairly good sketch of Norton's career; his grandson, Charles G. Norton, has writ- ten a sketch of some thirty typed pages, entitled Milford Phillips Norton, Pioneer of Bayou City. The Texas State Library has a copy of this sketch. Also see The Writings, IV, 305. A REVIEW OF THE SAN JACINTO CAMPAIGN : A SPEECH AT HOUSTON IN THE SUMMER OF 1845 1 We have assembled today to take a reckoning of the present, review the past, and consult and exchange views as to what is best for the future. The greater portion of this audience knows that since 1832, the period that I became a citizen of Texas, that I have assumed the responsibility of many important official posi- tions, conferred by a generous and confiding people. How I have discharged the various important and responsible trusts thus con- ferred, it is the duty as well as the right of the people to judge. That my official policy and actions, military and civil, from and during the period that has passed between 1835 to the present, as commander-in-chief of your army, and as President, should have met with a just and fair opposition, is but natural. Men were born to differ as to the policy that should be pursued to accomplish an important object; especially is this the case when the object to be attained is of a public nature. But when that opposition consists of misrep1·esentations, abuse, and slander, of a violent and personal character, it must be ascribed to motives not patriotic. At the very commencement of my military career I became associated with men of extraordinary patriotism, brav- ery, and intelligence. I refer to Colonels Fannin, Milam, Travis, Johnson, Bowie, and others; some of whom I have considered it my duty to differ with as to important public measures. If I should say anything that might be considered disparaging in
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