The Black Jacks

Houston was prevailed upon to make a speech at a barbecue to be held in the town square on the following day. Though this gave him no time to adequately prepare, Houston readily agreed. The sooner he started shooting at Lamar, he told Margaret, the more holes he'd put in the Texas president. He had learned a lesson or two from the current contest between Martin Van Buren and William Henry Harrison for the presidency of the United States. Back in 1836 he had not actively campaigned for president of Texas. The people had sought him out. But that way of doing things was old hat. Gone were the days of Washington and Jefferson, when no political aspirant would be caught dead acting like he actually wanted the job. These days a candidate had to seize every opportunity to be seen and heard. He had to go out and earn the votes.

On the day of the barbecue, John Henry McAllen's arrival in Nacogdoches went virtually u

Leaving their horses in Joshua's keeping, McAllen and Tice worked their way through the crowd, making for the platform. As they neared the structure, McAllen felt a tug on his sleeve and turned to see a familiar face.

"Captain McAllen! You don't know how happy I am to see you, sir."

"Gabriel Cartwright, may I introduce Dr. Artemus Tice. Artemus, Mr. Cartwright is an attorney from San Augustine, and one of the general's staunchest friends."

"Today I am in fear for the general's health, Captain McAllen."

Cartwright was a slender, white-haired gentleman whose usually cheerful countenance was furrowed with apprehension.

"What do you mean, sir?" asked Tice. "Is he ill?"

Cartwright looked about him. "There is a rumor afloat that Burnet has hired ruffians to follow Houston wherever he goes. That these men have been instructed to disrupt events such as this one. It has even been suggested that they may feel free to do worse."

"You mean an assault on the general's person?" asked McAllen. His skin crawled.

"That is precisely what I mean, sir. A couple of years ago, if you remember, Burnet was assaulted on the streets of Galveston by a pair of rogues. While the men were undoubtedly wharf rats, Burnet has always insisted that Houston was behind the attack."

"That's absurd," said McAllen angrily. "Sam Houston settles his quarrels personally."

"Of course he does. But try to convince Burnet of that. His animosity towards our mutual friend has become a personal vendetta that knows no bounds. He will stop at nothing, I'm afraid, to deny Houston the presidency."

"Who are these men?"

"We do not know their identity."

McAllen glanced at the platform. How exposed Houston was up there!

"I can't believe we have come to this," said Tice.

"A great deal is at stake in this election," Cartwright reminded him.

At that moment Houston was introduced to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my tremendous privilege to introduce our friend and neighbor, the hero of San Jacinto, the man who saved Texas and who is called upon now to do so again—General Sam Houston!"

The cheers were deafening as Houston stepped to the front of the podium. The day was humid and warm and he had shed his frock coat to stand before them in his shirtsleeves and trademark leopardskin vest. He raised a hand to quell the adulation of the crowd.

"My fair countrywomen and my countrymen. Greeted so cordially, and with entirely too much flattery, I am destined to fail in the attempt to express the deep emotion of the purest gratitude.

"When I contemplate the weight of evils under which my country labors, I am impressed with the conviction that our blessed republic shall rise like a phoenix from the ashes. Do not despair, my friends. Texas, and particularly this portion of it, presents an aspect as promising as I have ever witnessed. A few short years ago it was wilderness—uncultivated, unvisited, almost unknown. The eye of enterprise had not yet discovered this spot. But when the manacles of despotism were broken by the glorious contests of our revolution, your enterprise rescued this favored location from the forest. Population flowed in and with population came labor and wealth and commerce. Now this fair city stands inferior to none and the source of delight to all."

The crowd hurrahed, and Houston permitted them a few minutes before silencing them again with a humble gesture.

"Texas was menaced by a nation possessing thousands almost to one, and yet Texas achieved her independence and asserted her right to a position amidst the nations of the world. Tell the civilized world that a little band of patriots, animated by the daring spirit and unconquerable love of freedom which distinguishes the Anglo-Saxon race, battled successfully with an empire so powerful and burst the bonds of tyra

"How has this been accomplished? By the spirit and energy of her citizens, by the valor of her sons, by the inspired language of patriotism breathed by her daughters."

Such gallant words provoked the crowd to another frenzy of applause and cheers.

"Yes," said Houston, "yes, it is woman that makes the hero. It is she who instills the fires of patriotism. It is she who inspires every generous and noble purpose, that animates the bosom of man. A nation which possesses patriotic women must ever boast of her gallant sons, brave defenders, and successful generals. What is it that guides the soldier's hand, and nerves his arm in battle, but the anxious desire to defend the near and dear? What animates and sustains the officer, but the hope to win the admiration of the fair, and give security to his home and family? Gentlemen, it is woman who blesses her country, while she blesses those about her. Years ago, when I left home to fight the Creek Indians with Andrew Jackson, my dear mother gave me a musket and my father's ring, inscribed with the word HONOR. 'My door is always open to brave men,' she told me, 'but eternally shut to cowards.' In every endeavor since I have tried to make my mother proud. Yes, gentlemen, women are our inspiration as well as our salvation. For the want of sweet attractions at home, it is too usual among men to have recourse to the grog shop, or, still worse, to resort to the faro bank. Though it may surprise some of you, I speak from experience on this subject."

The people laughed.

"When we look about us and within us," continued Houston, his expression grave, "we ca