WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1854
62
Now, he is telling me all these things for the first time; for I never heard of them before. I never spoke to Colonel Jordan but once. When I was standing with another gentleman, Judge Sterne, by a counter, in the city of Austin, a crazy man rushed out of a room inside, with his night-clothes on, with a drawn ax in his hand. Judge Sterne instantly disarmed him, and the land- lord took him away. The poor creature was under the influence of mania,..a-potu; and I suppose this was the case from which he originates this great story. Look at the generosity and mag- nanimity of the Commodore? He will not disgrace himself, he says, by chastising in the streets a man who has submitted to be disgraced once. I do not think the Commodore has ever whipped anybody; at least, I never heard of it. I would not fight a duel. One of the gentlemen referred to did send me a verbal challenge. I do not know whether my honorable colleague was in Austin at the time or not; but if he was, he will remember it. It was a verbal challenge, sent on a Saturday night, to meet the challenger the next morning. I objected to it, first, on the ground that we were to have but one second, and that was the man who brought the challenge. Another objection was, that we were to meet on Sunday morning, and that I did not think anything was to be made by fighting on that day. The third objection was, that he was a good Christian, and had had his child baptised the Sunday before. The fourth was, that I never fought down hill, and I never would. I must, at least, make character, if I did not lose my life; and therefore I notified him in that way. He seemed to be satisfied with this good-humored answer, and it is the only challenge I have ever received in Texas. This letter was found among the papers furnished by Moore to the Senator from Maryland. It is the first time I ever heard· of it. Now, when a man is so valorous·and high-spirited, I should· dislike very exceedingly to disappoint him of a chance of showing it. If he is for fighting, I will hand him over to one who will take care of him. There is a man in my country with whom he has had difficulties, and I find that his opinion of the Commodore was published in 1848. Mark you, the letter which I have read is dated in 1845. The other, therefore, is a more recent date, and I give it precedence. I think I will keep mine an adjourned matter, since it has been on hand so long, and let the Commodore and this gentleman settle the: quarrel between them;
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