Houston’s Dramatic Return to the National Stage

Once Houston arrived in Washington, he resided in Browns Indian Queen Hotel. Before addressing Cherokee business, an incident occurred that changed the direction of his life and placed him back into the national spot light.

Houston’s routing out of corrupt Indian agents and fraudulent ration contracts had created powerful enemies in Washington. In a political counter attack they tried to blame Houston; the major accusing spokesman was an Ohio congressman named William Stanberry, who implicated Houston in the House of Representatives.

One rather dark night they met on Pennsylvania Avenue, in Washington, D. C., and Houston severely beat Stanberry with his cane seriously wounding him. Stanberry sent a note to the Speaker of the House: “I’ve been attacked, waylaid, and beaten by former congressman Houston.”

Houston was basically placed on trial in the House. There was a formal investigation, and Houston was allowed the United States Congress as a stage to defend himself. For several weeks the Houston Stanberry incident was the biggest newsworthy story and the hottest entertainment ticket in Washington. People filled the galleries in the House of Representatives to watch and listen to his performance.

Sam Houston had engaged Francis Scott Key to defend him. Houston was still a heavy drinker at the time. A story of the time is that Sam sent for one of the hotel managers, showed him a purse of money and a pistol and said to him: “Get me up in the morning, give me coffee, and if the coffee sticks, take the money, hire a barber, and clean me up. If I throw the coffee up, take the gun and shoot me.”

He threw up the first cup of coffee, but the second one seemed to wake him up and he was fine. He readied himself for the trial to discover Francis Scott Key was too hung over to defend him, so Houston had to defend himself.

Sam had a national platform in which to speak and gave a very lengthy oratory. He was brought before the Speaker of the House who said: “I am forced by circumstances to deliver the admonishment of the House on you, so ‘You are admonished.’”

Sam had been so close to ruin in his period of depression, that he might have given up on public service, but the Stanberry incident provided the opportunity to place him back on a national platform.