CHAPTER XI.
The condition of affairs after the battle of San Jacinto was one of discord and confusion. Discontent was universal. The Government ad interim had not been able to pursue a line of policy generally acceptable. The Convention which had adopted the Constitution at Washington in the previous month of March, had made provision for the crisis, and, accordingly, writs were issued for the election of a President by the people of Texas. Two candidates were named — Gen. Stephen F. Austin and ex-Governor Henry Smith. The latter was an excellent man and a patriot; the former had the love of all parties, and will always be regarded as the father of Texas. Houston, importuned to become a candidate, would not consent until twelve days before the election. He desired private life. If the public councils were guided by firmness and wisdom he did not believe that it would be necessary to fire another hostile gun. Unrelentingly persecuted, his feelings outraged in proportion as he had sacrificed his own interests and devoted himself to the State, he hoped in retirement to be happy and witness his country's freedom. One motive, at last, overcame his disinclination to mingle in the turmoil of public life. The virulence of party ran so high, he feared that the formation of cabinets made of party men would endanger the stability of any administration.
Without a dollar, and without credit, a government was to be created from chaos. He belonged to no party, he possessed the confidence of the masses in a remarkable degree; believing, therefore, that as parties were nearly equally balanced, and as there was great reason to believe that those out of power would so far embarrass an administration as to destroy its efficiency, he allowed his name to be used, hoping to be able still to render signal service to the State. National enthusiasm overcame the turbulence of party when this announcement was made. His election was opposed by a feeble clique of adventurers, who in the turbulent scenes of revolution, and when agitations convulsed the theatre of war, had
(116)
