Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/64

 the tailor." Appearances are not always decisive. Dress indicates either strength or weakness of human character. So reasoned Sam Houston at that time, while he, adopted as a son by the chief of an Indian tribe, continued to cherish a free and courageous spirit under cover of an Indian blanket. In the elections by this primitive convention, he refused to accept any civil office. A Governor and Lieutenant-Governor were appointed. One member chosen by each municipality, made up the council, which was to continue in session till superseded by officers elected by the people. Other officers requisite for the administration of such a government were chosen. Henry Smith was chosen Provisional Governor, and J. W. Robinson Lieutenant-Governor; but the event which certainly decided the destiny of Texas was the election of Sam Houston, by a vote among fifty members lacking only one of unanimity, to be. He was born to command. He possessed the great qualities with which gifted leaders are usually invested. The appointment was accepted; for, having promised to do whatever was possible for him to do, he had no alternative. He immediately proceeded to appoint his staff. All the necessary measures were taken for raising and organizing a regular army, as well as originating a competent militia system.

Texas was without money, and there were few men then living who properly considered the importance of the early movements for its redemption from Mexican misrule, or forecasted the wonderful changes fifty years would witness. Stephen F. Austin, W. H. Wharton, and B. F. Archer were appointed commissioners to visit the United States to procure a loan wherewith to sustain the colonists under the strong pressure of their bold undertaking. Houston, looking upon Texas as dependent upon her own resources, based on her intrinsic values and the individual generosity of her citizens and their sympathizers, issued a proclamation inviting five thousand volunteers to join in maintaining the cause of Texas. In the interval between the departure of Gen. Austin to the United States as a commissioner and the assumption of command by General Houston, the army was under the command of General Edward Burleson, an early settler of Texas, a worthy man and an estimable civilian. Some military events transpired, irregular in their character, yet indicative of great personal heroism on the part of the volunteers. Before Austin left the army, Cols. Fannin and Bowie sustained with about one hundred Americans a gallant action with five hundred Mexicans at the Mission Conception. Leaving some dead on the field and carrying away with them many wounded, the Mexicans retreated and the Americans in triumph marched to the vicinity of San Antonio and posted themselves above the place. About two hundred Americans acceded to the