PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNA.P.ARTE LA.MAR 293 Those only who have experienced the horrors of such desolation as had been-visited on Western Tex11s, are fair arbitors of the extent of degra- dation to which men may, for the sake of their helpless dependants, be brought to submit. The conditional return of Sam Houston was, how- ever, marked by the retirement into private life, of many who disdained such association. Texas for a long period now presented a most unpromising condition. The voice of the "Old Settlers" 73 was swamped in the far more numer- ous vote of the auxiliaries; and those who, now that danger ~eemed no longer proximate, complied with the easy conditions of citizenship, and supported with the cheaply purchased suffrage of the ruffians_. gamblers and swindlers throughout the Country, Houston and his "Old clique" had the exulting certaint.v of their power being re-inforced by in- numerable accessions, who should only thirive by supporting and sus- taining a dynasty of misrule. The list of ravening imbeciles who received official appointments speaks significantly for the various mal- versations that mark the dark era of his despotic rule, and compelled the conscientious poor to the abhorred function of parading as his adherents. It is well known that at places where public works were carried on, that no man was suffered to obtain employment, but such as would give fealty to the virtual emperor! No merit nor skill availed to procure the humblest clerkship without this engagement; and let it, in extenuation for such individuals, be borne in mind, that the fertile West could neither be speedily reclaimed from the ruin which had over- whelmed it, nor freed from the revived audacity of the Mexicans and Savages who were trifled with by a contemptible cabinet of tribute payers, too much immersed in its swindling conspiracy for plundering the misgoverned Country, to think of allowing any of its revenue to be appropriated legitimately. It is called noble and philosophical for gentlemen who sit at home in ease, to contemn as voluntary slaves those who crouch to power and receive their bitter crust from the usurper of their liberties; but if they would, even in imagination, change places and view hunger approaching the partners of their desolate lot, we need hardly inquire what would be their notions of individual ex- pediency. The autobiography abounds in bold untruths as to his successes with the savages of the frontier, his political history, and his farsightedness; . they are too easy detected to warrant the loss of time in refutation. However, in the matter of public and private financeering he scarcely does himself justice. To the democracy,- which especially means, and has always meant in Houston's mind, the unreflecting masses, who are to be swayed by capitivating their affections with humorous "platform stories" and pre- tended sim.ilarity of tastes, habitR and privations - Houston speaks of his poverty, his charity and his ''Unpretending log house" - If his hovel is. a pigstye, no other induction can be drawn than that he still wallows in the reminiscence of his "indian satisfaction and com- fort" in the wigwam. If his door is open to every dissolute tramper, the dutv is a fraternal o.ne, whirh it would be monstrous to forego. If his savings are not large, the reason is the glutten cannot eat up his
71 See no. 2176.
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