March 2023 Blues Vol 39 No. 3

DARYL LOTT There’s

DARYL LOTT There’s been a lot of talk lately about the Constitution. That’s a yrs. good thing. It is the document that governs us for good or for ill. Some say it’s a living document. I suppose that’s true seeing that there is Texas Politics and One’s Mental Health. a process we can follow to change The first regularly elected president Houston figured he had a two it in some way, but it’s not a living of the Republic of Texas out of three chance to defeat document as it sits. It says what it was, of course, Sam Houston. A Lamar. says. If you don’t like what it says - close study of that man’s life reveals an extremely strong willed steamer in Galveston Bay when James Collinsworth was on a change it. Sometimes when I research things, I run across sentences individual. He is the personification of not only Texas, but an jumping overboard to his death. centuries ago. Such sentences give he decided to end his life by in reports written years or even age. The personal setbacks in Peter Grayson was on his way me pause as I consider them. All his life led him to do things that back to Texas when he stopped reports have biases in them, so I try were really strange (run away to at a tavern in Tennessee. He left to account for that (knowing I have live with the Cherokees, assault a note apologizing to the inn my own biases and filters). Since people, go on long benders, keeper before he shot himself in governments came on the scene dress in outrageous wardrobes, the head. in world history, leaders have sent etc). He did what he had to do Lamar became president much DARYL LOTT agents to places with instructions to navigate personal turmoil. to the detriment of Texas, however, he is considered to be the relationship with Houston. It was to report back on their findings. An early example in world history He was a better man after each might be when the Israelites sent episode. father of free public education in he that convinced Houston to run people to the Promised Land with Houston was recovering from Texas. He also moved the capital from Houston to Austin and the other senator from the new saw. One such mission in American for President the first time. He was orders to report back what they a serious life-threatening wound he suffered at San Jacinto when designed our tricolor lone star state serving with the “Old Chief” history occurred when President people begged him to run for flag. Houston hated the enormous in that office. He went to DC to Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark out president. He did not want to debt Lamar ran up in a bid represent Texas and doctors dis- to report back on a real estate deal run, doctors in New Orleans removed over twenty bone frag- than a land preparing for state- neck not long after his arrival that Pretty standard stuff. to make Texas an empire rather covered a lump at the base of his Jefferson completed with Napoleon. ments from his shattered ankle. hood. they believed to be a tumor. Rusk In Texas history there was a His other war wounds from the Again, after Houston was report that actually revealed a lot took his life through a self inflicted gunshot wound. about the reportee and the subjects Creek Indian War plagued him elected as the third president, of the report. In 1827, the Mexican his entire life. While fighting for he could not succeed himself. I write this to share thoughts on government sent one of its generals to Tejas to observe Texians and his life, he consented to run for He asked a friend, Anson Jones, mental health. Be aware of your Texas president only eleven days to run and prepare the republic own and others’ mental state. We make a report of his observations. before the election. He won, but for imminent statehood. Jones have all lost friends to suicide The government was concerned Texas law did not allow consecutive consented and won the election. and it’s never easy to navigate the that the new immigrants weren’t terms. He was the last president of the aftermath of such a devastating assimilating. General Manuel Meir M.B. Lamar ran on the “No republic, but he did things that event. The old heroes of Texas y Teran dutifully complied with his Annexation” platform to be the were very unpopular with voters. were “tough men” living in tough orders. He confirmed that the newcomers were not fitting in as they second president. Over 95% of Therefore, he was not appointed as a senator in the new state. times. If they could succumb to Texans wanted to be annexed should. The newcomers expected personal demons, anyone could. too much service from the government in the way of courts and jus- to the U.S. so his platform was He blew his brains out in what Our nation created a National Suicide Prevention Hotline as an aid tice. The newcomers thought it was not popular. Houston asked two would later become the Rice political allies to run in his stead Hotel in Houston. to help those who are struggling beneath them to pay a little extra to stave off Lamar: James Collinsworth and Peter Grayson. friend with an on again off again ber for help is 988. Pass it along. tle bribe here and there was a good Thomas Rusk was a longtime with their mental state. The num- for the alcaldes to hear a case. A lit- thing. All of that was spot on in the 94 The BLUES The BLUES 95 daryl’s deliberations