Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/253

Rh ever soft and clear, and beamed with a smile which no man can wear whose heart does not overflow with love of country and philanthropy to his race. He suffered during his long and eventful life from few, if any, physical ailments. But no surgical skill was ever able to close up the wound which he received in his right shoulder from two rifle-balls, at Tohopeka. That wound discharged every day for forty-seven years. His linen was wet with its discharge in the hour of his death. In an almost miraculous manner he entirely recovered from the wound in his ankle, received at the battle of San Jacinto. Surrounded by his family (except Lieut. Sam Houston, Jr., who was on the field of battle), his great frame succumbed to the power of the destroyer, and his great soul passed to the presence of his God on the 26th day of July, 1863. He was attended by admiring friends, and conversed freely on his soul's welfare with Rev. Mr. Cockrell, pastor of the Huntsville Presbyterian Church. The House of Representatives of Texas adopted the following resolutions at its session, about three months thereafter, which were introduced by an address from Hon. J. H. Banton, Representative of Walker County. The following is a transcript of the resolutions forwarded to Mrs. Houston:

"Mr. J. H. Banton, of Walker, offered the following resolutions, to wit:

"Resolved, That the House has heard with deep regret that the distinguished statesman, patriot, and soldier, General Sam Houston, departed this life on the 26th day of July, 1863, at his residence in Walker County.

"Resolved, That in his death the State has lost one of its distinguished citizens and public servants, and one of its ablest and most zealous advocates and defenders of its rights, liberties, and its honor.

"Resolved, That so great a light can be illy spared in this dark hour of our country's existence, and its going out is alike a State and a national calamity.

"Resolved, That his public services through a long and eventful life, his unblemished patriotism, his great private and moral worth, and his untiring, devoted, and zealous regard for the interests of the State of Texas command our highest admiration, and should be held in perpetual remembrance by the people of the State.

"Resolved, That the sympathies and condolence of the people of the State be tendered the afflicted family of the deceased.

"Resolved, That the Clerk of the House furnish the surviving widow of the deceased a copy of these proceedings, and that they be spread upon the journals of the House.

"Resolved, That as a further token of respect to the memory of the distinguished dead, this House do now adjourn to 10 A.M. to-morrow; which was adopted, and after some appropriate remarks from Mr. Banton, the House adjourned to 10 to-morrow."