WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
193
JANUARY, 1859
REMARKS ON THE DEATH OF GENERAL QUITMAN, JANUARY 5, 1859 1 Mr. President, the occasion is unexpected to me. I was not aware until the announcement was made this morning, that such a proceeding was to take place today. I have not been insensible to the occasion of these resolutions. I was aware of the decease of the illustrious dead, and I had offered in heart that condolence which I thought due to the event and to those who feel so deeply wounded and affected by this death. I felt that the country had lost a patriot and a soldier. I felt, too, in reminiscences of the past, that the State of which I am, in part a representative, was sensible of obligations to the illustrious dead, for evidences of patriotism and sympathy which he had evinced towards that State in her revolutionary struggle for liberty. He had made sacrifices in her behalf of personal conveniences and comforts, and of pecuniary aid. So soon as a knowledge of the struggle in which Texas was engaged reached the ears of General Quitman, 2 he threw aside his family cares and domestic endearments, his business trans- actions, and everything of interest, and repaired to Texas to participate in her trials. He reached there at an important crisis, but detained by orders of the vigilance committee at Nacogdoches, he was unable to engage in the conflict that was decisive of her liberty. He arrived two days after the action that sealed her existence as a nation; and I well recollect his patriotic expression, on that occasion, his ardent feelings, his indescribable regrets that he had not been there to mingle in the conflict. I well remember the respect with which Texas was inspired for the man. Ere his advent into that country he had been known to the citizens of Texas,,and they hailed his arrival with the greatest enthusiasm and pleasure. So deeply were they impressed with the importance of his services as a man and an officer, that the commander-in- chief tendered to him the situation of adjutant general of the State, if he chose to remain; but the attractions that had drawn him there had ceased; the occasion that he had sought to antici- pate had passed by; the charms which had brought him to that place existed no longer. It was thought that the great struggle of the revolution was over, and that no other ·occasion would present itself requiring his aid and services. Hence he declined that situation, and returned to his own State of Mississippi. His illustrious services since then have been so we11 described by the '
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