Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/70



declaration of Texan independence was denounced as an act of high-handed robbery, perpetrated by a band of bold outlaws, by a thousand newspapers in the United States; and a feeling of hostility was excited against the infant republic, without a parallel in the history of the world. But a wise Providence willed the declaration, and that it should be triumphantly sustained. The Convention which passed it, terminated the existence of the Provisional Government, with its offices of Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Council, and Major-General. This last office, although he had been superseded by a hostile council. Gen. Houston held. But the emergency required that there should be a commander-in-chief. The Convention went into an election, and out of fifty-six votes, Houston, who was not present, received all but one vote. Gloom hung over the public mind. Texas had no organized forces. The few Georgians and Alabamians were detached beyond the Southern settlements, commanded by an officer who had contemptuously disobeyed the orders of the commander-in-chief. It was feared that Gen. Houston would decline the office tendered because of the treatment which he had received from the Council. The conviction was almost universal that, unless he would accept the command of the army, the cause of Texan Independence was lost. Apprehension and alarm agitated every mind. Stirred by the heroic spirit which ever animated him, sympathizing with the general feeling. Gen. Houston resolved to hazard everything and peril life itself upon the issue, and accepted the command. Letters had been received, a few days before the Declaration of Independence had been adopted, from Col. W. B. Travis, who was in command of the Alamo at San Antonio de Bexar, informing the people of Texas — for general anarchy at that time reigned — that he was invested by a numerous force, and calling earnestly for aid. This result had been, as it will be remembered, anticipated by Gen. Houston. The commanding officer had been ordered to abandon and blow up the Alamo. The orders were disobeyed by the officer,